| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08014092B2 |
Method of detecting bad servo track in hard disk drive
A method of detecting a bad servo track of an HDD includes measuring servo AGC of each of servo sectors of a servo track requiring determination of badness, calculating statistic data with respect to the measured servo AGC of each servo sector, and determining whether the servo track is bad based on the calculated statistic data. Since the badness of a servo track is determined based on the statistic data of the servo AGC, a bad servo track generated due to a change in the overall magnitude of a servo signal is easily detected so that reliability in the detection of a detective servo track can be improved. |
| US08014090B2 |
Lens device
A lens device includes: a lens barrel body having holes; guide bars supported by the lens barrel body and one ends of the guide bars are inserted in the holes; lens holding frames supported so as to be movable along the guide bars and are engaged with the guide bars; and pressing members that press the one ends of the guide bars in a direction perpendicular to the guide bars and are inserted in the holes. The pressing members have a falling-off prevention engagement protrusion engaged with the lens barrel body. |
| US08014085B2 |
Lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus
A lens apparatus includes a first lens holding member configured to hold a lens, and an actuator configured to move the first lens holder in an optical axis direction. The lens apparatus transfers to a retracted state by moving the first lens holding member to a retracted position via the actuator from an image picking-up state. The lens apparatus further includes a stopper configured to move in a direction different from the optical axis direction between a first position at which the stopper restricts a movement of the first lens holding member and a second position off the first position, and a driving member configured to move the stopper from the second position to the first position relative to the first lens holding member that has moved to the retreated position. |
| US08014084B2 |
Optics for an extended depth of field
An optical imaging assembly having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly. |
| US08014081B2 |
Chromatic aberration compensating image optics
An imaging optics capable of compensating for chromatic aberration is provided with a light shielding means in a surface peripheral area of a certain lens element in a lens system so as to block a light flux of a specified wavelength range, thereby eliminating chromatic aberration in halo of the light flux of the specified wavelength range when it passes the periphery of the lens system. Thus, the invention provides the imaging optics that, without an increase in the number of pieces of lens elements and without a use of an expensive specified low-dispersion glass material, in contrast with the prior art imaging optics of the same optical performances, well compensates for chromatic aberration, especially, in halo. |
| US08014076B2 |
Variable focal length lens, camera module, and electronic apparatus
A variable focal length lens includes: a lens portion including a pair of light transmissive members, at least one of which is deformable, and a light transmissive liquid medium sealed between the pair of light transmissive members; and a liquid medium container including a chamber that communicates with the lens portion and is filled with the liquid medium, the liquid medium container causing the shape of the surface of the deformable light transmissive member or members to be changed by changing the volume of the chamber to adjust the amount of liquid medium with which the lens portion is filled. |
| US08014073B1 |
Thin film coated optical hybrid
An absorptive coating is in contact with an optical beam splitter such that a signal beam and a reference beam incident on the beam splitter from opposite sides are can be combined to produce two interference beams having a phase difference of about π 2 . |
| US08014069B2 |
Polarization converter, optical system, method and applications
A stress-induced polarization converter in the form of a zero power optical window or, alternatively, a single element, positive or negative power optical lens, that is subject to a controlled amount of symmetric, peripheral stress. The stress may be provided by appropriate mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, electromagnetic/piezo, annealing/molding, or other known techniques and may be trigonal or four-fold. Axial foci can be created by applying the controlled, symmetric, peripheral stress. The separation distance between the foci can be controlled by controlling the magnitude of the applied symmetric, peripheral stress. |
| US08014067B2 |
High extinction ratio and low crosstalk compact optical switches
An improved optical switch utilizes one polarization modulator, with the beam components traversing it twice. Because of the twice traverse, the extinction ratio of the switch is doubled without the addition of another polarization modulator, thus avoiding the costs of additional optical components. With no additional components, the switch is more compact than conventional switches with the same extinction ratio. Fewer components also result in more thermal and long-term stability and less crosstalk. |
| US08014065B2 |
Microscope apparatus with fluorescence cube for total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscopy
A microscope apparatus has an illumination optical system illuminating a sample with laser light from laser light sources. A fluorescence detection optical system detects fluorescence from the sample. Fluorescence cubes are interchangeably provided in an optical path of the illumination optical system and lead the laser light to the sample. An objective lens is also provided. At least one of the fluorescence cubes includes an optical member that makes a principal ray of the laser light substantially parallel to an optical axis of the illumination optical system and concentrates the laser light on a given position that is on a pupil position of the objective lens and separated from the optical axis, thereby providing a microscope apparatus capable of changing from a confocal microscope to a total-internal-reflection fluorescence microscope by exchanging a fluorescence cube used in the fluorescence microscope. |
| US08014057B2 |
Extending the gamut color generation in a display
In a display system, a color gamut of the displayed images is extended by adding one or more primary colors lying outside a tristimulus color space triangle to a Red, Green, Blue (RGB) system, modulating light emitted by both light sources lying inside the tristimulus color space triangle and light sources lying outside the tristimulus color space triangle, and adding a non-tristimulus vertex to construct an extended-gamut polygon. The display system adds one or more primary colors to the RGB system, which lie outside the tristimulus color space triangle but within a CIE (International Commission on Illumination) color space. |
| US08014051B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
At least one of a coupling lens and a cylindrical lens has a diffraction lens surface having a ring-band structure with a height h between adjacent ring-bands. The diffraction lens surface has an area A having a shape similar to that of the ring-band structure with a height h′, where h≠h′. The ring-band structure has a function of correcting a fluctuation in focal position of the scanning beam on the scanning surface, and the area A has a function of expanding a focal depth of a light spot on the scanning surface. |
| US08014050B2 |
Agile holographic optical phased array device and applications
A device that provides light beam switching, agile steering of the light beam over a range of angles, and generation of arbitrary wavefront shapes with high spatial and temporal resolution. The agile device can include a volume diffractive structure comprising Bragg planes having one refractive index and the Bragg planes separated by regions containing an active optical medium. Electrodes (which may be the Bragg planes themselves, or may be arrayed adjacent to the active optical medium) are used to control the electric field intensity and direction across the structure, and thereby control the diffraction efficiency of the structure and the local phase delay imposed on a diffracted wavefront. Means are provided for addressing the many thousands of electrodes required for precise and rapid wavefront control. Applications include free-space atmospheric optical communications, near-eye displays, direct-view 3D displays, optical switching, and a host of other applications. |
| US08014049B2 |
Method for automatic color correction and apparatus thereof
An apparatus for automatic color correction is provided, which includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a plurality of section adders and a micro control unit (MCU). The section adders divide a test image signal through the ADC into sections and count the gray-level amount in each section. The MCU adjusts the offset and the gain of the ADC for automatic color correction, thereby ensuring that the color in the image signal almost appear to our eye as the true color. |
| US08014048B2 |
Image forming device
An image forming device including: a platen glass on which a document is placed; a platen cover that presses and retains the document placed on the platen glass; an engagement portion provided at a side surface of the platen cover; a link component attached to a side surface of the device main body to be movable in a substantially vertical direction; a groove portion provided at an upper end portion of the link component, that engages with the engagement portion when the link component is moved substantially upward from a housed position thereof, whereby the platen cover opens or closes due to movement of the link component, and that does not engage with the engagement portion when the link component is at the housed position; and an operating portion provided to be positioned beneath the platen cover, for moving the link component in the substantially vertical direction, is provided. |
| US08014047B2 |
Sheet media stack imaging system
An imaging system that includes a sheet media stack over a recording unit is provided. The imaging system generates image data in response to radiation received from a field of view encompassing sheet media edges of individual media within the sheet media stack. The imaging system detects edges of individual media within the image data. |
| US08014046B2 |
Scanner device, printing device and scan method
Disclosed herein is a scanner device which scans a predetermined scan object and generates image data, the scanner device including: an image sensor which converts an optical image of the scan object into corresponding image data; a movement unit which moves a carriage having the image sensor in a sub-scan direction; a first control unit which controls the movement unit by a first control process; a second control unit which controls the movement unit by a second control process different from the first control process; and a selection unit which selects the first or the second control unit according to setting contents relating to a scan. |
| US08014043B2 |
Display system
The display system includes the display apparatus and the scanner apparatus disposed so as to be drawable forward below the display apparatus. In addition, the upper unit is attached so as to be openable and closeable to the lower unit. Moreover, in the scanner apparatus, a sheet-like original, an image of which is read by the image reading device, can be fed from a front side of the upper unit. In addition, when the image of the sheet-like original is read by the scanner apparatus, the original is fed from the front face side of the scanner apparatus to read the original image, and when an image of a book original is read, the scanner apparatus is pulled out forward so that an image of the book original is read in a state where the upper unit is opened. |
| US08014041B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning apparatus which includes: a light source unit which emits a light beam; a deflection scanning device which deflects the light beam emitted from the light source unit; an optical scanning unit having a scanning imaging lens and which scans a surface to be scanned; and a light beam detector which detects a position in a sub-scanning direction of the light beam, and is disposed in a position maintaining a correlation, in a time-varying characteristic, between an amount of change of a position in the sub-scanning direction of the light beam on the surface to be scanned and an amount of change of a position in the sub-scanning direction of the light beam detected by the light beam detector, in which a difference between the amount of change of the position in the sub-scanning direction of the light beam on the surface to be scanned and the amount of change of the position in the sub-scanning direction of the light beam detected by the light beam detector is equal to or less than a set value. |
| US08014040B2 |
Dynamic scanner system
A printer, scanner device and methods for using same are described herein. A printer device may include a dedicated input that, when actuated, generates and sends a request to a computer for known data or a predetermined print job, e.g., schedule information from a personal information management (PIM) application. A scanner device may include another dedicated input that, when actuated, automatically scans a document fed to the device by the user and sends the scanned image to IM (or other) software on a computer, bypassing the need to manipulate the scanned image using scanner software. The device may be used with printed metapaper, which includes a barcode or other indicia identifying the metapaper and corresponds to a stored template image of the metapaper. When the metapaper is rescanned, the scan can be compared to the stored template information to identify changes and synchronize the changes with the IM software. |
| US08014037B2 |
Facsimile apparatus having large display panel, operation panel, and document insert
A facsimile apparatus in which a large display apparatus can be mounted while realizing miniaturization of an apparatus main body, an operation panel having excellent operability is realized, excellent inserting performance of documents and recording paper can be assured, compatibility between simple operability and multifunctional operability can be realized, is provided. The apparatus has: an operation panel 71 arranged in an upper front portion of the apparatus main body; a display unit 14 which is closably arranged to the operation panel 71, located in an upper rear position of the operation panel upon opening, and overlaid onto the operation panel upon closing; and a document inserting port 44 and a recording paper inserting port 29 arranged behind the operation panel in the upper portion of the apparatus main body and behind the display unit 14 upon opening. |
| US08014035B2 |
Decoding message data embedded in an image print via halftone dot orientation
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for encoding/decoding data in a cover contone image via halftone dot orientation modulation. Arrays of halftone threshold values are used to determine a desired orientation, e.g. 0/90°+/−45° for a given single data value of the original message to be embedded. Message data is embedded as a function of halftone dot orientation. Detection modeling of the print-scan process enables the determination of dot orientation from the image scan via statistically motivated image moments. A probabilistic model of the print-scan channel conditions received moments on input orientation. Density values of the received moments are used to determine dot orientation for each halftone cell. The embedded data is retrieved based on the determined orientations. The present method is applicable to areas of data embedding, document security, and the like. |
| US08014034B2 |
Image contrast enhancement
A method for contrast enhancement for digital images, including filtering an original image having original color values, to generate a first filtered image corresponding to bright color values, and a second filtered image corresponding to dark color values, deriving local highlight multipliers by applying a highlight response curve to the first filtered image, the highlight response curve being a function of color value that increases from a response value of one, corresponding to a color value of zero, to a response value greater than one, corresponding to a maximum color value, deriving local shadow multipliers by applying a shadow response curve to the second filtered image, the shadow response curve being a function of color value that decreases from a response value greater than one, corresponding to a color value of zero, to a response value of one, corresponding to a maximum color value, deriving local offset values by applying an offset curve to the first filtered image, and processing the original image, including subtracting the local offset values from the original color values to generate shifted color values, multiplying the shifted color values by the local highlight multipliers, and further multiplying the shifted color values by the local shadow multipliers, thereby generating a contrast-enhanced image from the original image. A system and a computer-readable storage medium are also described. |
| US08014033B2 |
Image output color management system and method
Disclosed is an image color management system and method for controlling an image output device. The method for controlling the image output device comprises generating an image output device profile LUT (look-up-table) characterizing the color profile of the image output device for a plurality of drift states associated with the image output device; generating a set of augmented basis vectors representing the LUT, L*a*b* values and multiple GCR/UCRs; storing the set of basis vectors in an image output device controller; and generating an image output device active profile associated with a current drift state of the image output device to convert image color data for display or printing by the image output device, wherein the image output device active profile is generated from the set of basis vectors. |
| US08014032B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus and halftoning correction method thereof
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a halftoning correction method thereof are provided. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the example embodiments of the present invention, comprises a storage unit storing a plurality of dot patterns representing print characteristics of a print engine, a data area dividing unit dividing halftoned print data into data areas respectively having the same size as the dot patterns, a pattern extraction unit extracting an appropriate dot pattern with respect to each of the divided data areas by comparing dots in the data areas to the dot patterns, and a pattern converter changing the data area to the extracted dot pattern. Therefore, an optimal halftoned image can be provided. |
| US08014029B2 |
Raster-to-swath image data conversion printing system and related method
A printing system for printing an image swath by swath according to image data that is provided to an image memory buffer in raster format. The printing system includes a carriage that moves a printhead with a plurality of columnar marking elements based on input provided by an encoder and a printer controller for reformatting the image data and controlling the marking elements. The printer controller includes a direct memory access controller for extracting the data from the image memory buffer and rotating the data from raster format to column format, a plurality of stroke buffers for receiving image data in column format from the direct memory access controller, an encoder control portion for providing stroke firing strobes based on input from the encoder, and a printhead driver control portion for generating data requests from the stroke buffers based on input provided by the encoder and to provide signals necessary to cause the marking elements to print according to the timing of the stroke firing strobes. |
| US08014027B1 |
Automatic selection of color conversion method using image state information
In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes obtaining an image and a corresponding color profile including state information for the image in relation to the color profile, the state information selected from a group including a scene-referred state and an output-referred state; selecting, automatically in response to identification of the state information, a rendering intent for the image, based on the state information and a current task in an imaging workflow, from a group including relative colorimetric rendering intent, perceptual rendering intent and absolute colorimetric rendering intent; converting, automatically in response to the selecting, the image to a new color space based on the color profile and the selected rendering intent; and making the converted image available for processing and output. |
| US08014021B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus for automatically attaching a designated text/graph on an image
An image processing method includes the following steps. Firstly, a specified digital image and a designated text/graph are retrieved. Then, the specified digital image is processed to obtain image information associated with a right-side-up image of the specified digital image. Afterwards, the designated text/graph is automatically adjusted and attached on a specified position relative to the right-side-up image according to the image information, thereby printing the specified digital image and the designated text/graph. |
| US08014017B2 |
Image processing apparatus for transferring image data in a compressed form
An image processing apparatus is used for copying an original. A reading section reads an image of an original. An image forming section forms the image of the original on a medium. When an error detector has detected an error in the image processing apparatus, a network connecting section connects the image processing apparatus to a network so that a printer detector detects an external image forming apparatus connected to the network. Then, a selecting section selects the image forming apparatus connected to the network. The image forming apparatus is selected based on certain predetermined conditions. Then, an image transferring section transfers the image of the original to the image forming apparatus so that the image of the original is printed by the detected image forming apparatus. |
| US08014016B2 |
Retrieving system and retrieving method
A retrieving system includes a requesting device and a plurality of storage devices. The requesting device includes an input unit configured to input image data, an extracting unit configured to extract a retrieval key from the image data input by the input unit, a selecting unit configured to select at least one retrieval device from the storage devices according to a characteristic of the image data input by the input unit, and a requesting unit configured to request the retrieval device selected by the selecting unit to perform a retrieval based on the retrieval key extracted by the extracting unit. |
| US08014015B2 |
Print data processing system, printer, and data processing indicating apparatus
To provide a print data processing system, a printer, and a data processing indicating apparatus, for storing print data and a print history and notifying update of the print data, which is not necessarily registered separately in order to receive a notification of update. The printer stores name data of print data, identification data of a data processing indicating apparatus (or an external apparatus) that has sent storage indicating data of the print data, and identification data of a data processing indicating apparatus (or an external apparatus) that has sent print indicating data of the print data; judges if the print data is updated or not on the basis of the stored data; and notifies each data processing indicating apparatus (or the external apparatus) that has sent print indicating data of the print data of update of the print data. |
| US08014008B2 |
Control apparatus, control method therefor, and printing system
This invention allows setting which of user defining sheet name and print sheet name is to be used for each print sheet type when receiving a print sheet error notification from a network printer and notifying a client of a recovery request message. In order to implement a function not supported by a color copying apparatus, a control apparatus is interposed between a client terminal-connected network and the color copying apparatus. The control unit in the control apparatus receives a recovery request message from the color copying apparatus. In this case, the control unit refers to a user defining sheet database to determine which user defining sheet name and print sheet name is to be used as a sheet name contained in the recovery request message to be sent to a print job-issuing client terminal. The control unit transmits the determined recovery request message to the client terminal. |
| US08014007B2 |
Information processing apparatus, substitute print job management method, information processing program, and recording medium
In a print system including a print server and a plurality of printers, when the occurrence of a failure in a first printer is detected, the print job to be processed first from among the print jobs accumulated in the first printer is identified as the first print job. Print jobs other than the first print job in the first printer are transferred to a second printer, and then deleted from the first printer. |
| US08014002B2 |
Contour sensor incorporating MEMS mirrors
A structured light sensor system for measuring contour of a surface includes an imaging lens system, an image capturing device, a first set of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors, and a control module. The imaging lens system focuses light reflected from the surface, wherein the imaging lens system has a corresponding lens plane. The image capturing device captures the focused light and generates data corresponding to the captured light, wherein the image capturing device has a corresponding image plane that is not parallel to the lens plane. The first set of MEMS mirrors direct the focused light to the image capturing device. The control module receives the data, determines a quality of focus of the captured light based on the received data, and controls the first set of MEMS mirrors based on the quality of focus to maintain a Scheimpflug tilt condition between the lens plane and the image plane. |
| US08013995B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining size and composition of a particulate matter in a fume flow
A method for determining size and composition of a particulate matter in a fume flow produced by a combustion process. A polarized laser light beam is projected through the fume flow and the scattered light from the fume flow is gathered in a sideward scattering direction and in at least one forward scattering direction. For each of these scattering directions, the gathered light is separated into two polarized light components on the planes parallel and orthogonal to the scattering direction, the light intensity of each of the polarized light components is measured and a scattered light polarization ratio is calculated as a function of the measured light intensities of the polarized light components. The size of the particulate matter and the unburnt carbon percentage in the particulate matter are determined as a function of the calculated scattered light polarization ratios. |
| US08013993B2 |
Spectroscopy module
In a spectroscopy module 1, a light passing hole 50 through which a light L1 advancing to a spectroscopic portion 4 passes is formed in a light detecting element 5. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the relative positional relationship between the light passing hole 50 and a light detecting portion 5a of the light detecting element 5 from deviating. Moreover, the light detecting element 5 is bonded to a front plane 2a of a substrate 2 with an optical resin adhesive 63. Thus, it is possible to reduce a stress generated onto the light detecting element 5 due to a thermal expansion difference between the light detecting element 5 and the substrate 2. Additionally, the light transmissive plate 16 covers a part of a light incident opening 50a. Thus, a light incident side surface 63a of the optical resin adhesive 63 becomes a substantially flat plane in the light passing hole 50. Therefore, it is possible to make the light L1 appropriately incident into the substrate 2. |
| US08013991B2 |
Raman difference spectra based disease classification
A method to diagnosis a disease state of an unknown sample. A test Raman data set for an unknown sample is generated. A reference Raman database is provided where the database contains a plurality of reference Raman data sets and a plurality of reference Raman difference data sets. The reference Raman difference data set is generated by determining a difference between a first reference Raman data set and a second reference Raman data set. A first reference Raman data set is associated with first known sample and associated with one or more of: a first known disease state and a first known clinical outcome. A second reference Raman data set is associated with a second known sample and associated with one or more of: a second known disease state and a second known clinical outcome. A diagnosis is provided of whether the unknown sample has a first disease state or a second disease state by comparing the test Raman dataset to said plurality of reference Raman difference data sets in the reference Raman database using a chemometric technique. |
| US08013982B2 |
Movable body drive method and system, pattern formation method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus for driving movable body based on measurement value of encoder and information on flatness of scale, and device manufacturing method
A drive unit drives a wafer stage in a Y-axis direction based on a measurement value of an encoder that measures position information of the wafer stage in the Y-axis direction and based on information on the flatness of a scale that is measured by the encoder. In this case, the drive unit can drive the wafer stage in a predetermined direction based on a measurement value after correction in which a measurement error caused by the flatness of the scale included in the measurement value of the encoder is corrected based on the information on the flatness of the scale. Accordingly, the wafer stage can be driven with high accuracy in a predetermined direction using the encoder, without being affected by the unevenness of the scale. |
| US08013979B2 |
Illumination system with low telecentricity error and dynamic telecentricity correction
An illuminator with substantially reduced telecentricity error relative to conventional illuminators includes one or more modules having movable optical elements with low telecentricity error that may be adjusted to compensate for telecentricity errors. The modules may include a zoom zoom axicon, a condenser, and a multi field relay. The zoom zoom axicon may include one or more lenses adjustable in up to six degrees of freedom. The condenser and the multi field relay may include one or more lenses adjustable in up to six degrees of freedom or a set of two or more mirrors with one or more of the mirrors adjustable in up to six degrees of freedom. The illuminator may also include a control system to control the adjustments of the movable optical elements. A lithography system including such an illuminator is also presented, along with a method of providing illumination with low telecentricity error. |
| US08013978B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
In an immersion lithographic apparatus, a final element is disclosed having, on a surface nearest the substrate, a layer bonded to the surface and having an edge barrier, of the same material as the layer, extending from the layer away from the substrate to shield the final element from a liquid. In an embodiment, the final element is attached to the apparatus via the layer and/or edge barrier, which may be made of a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the final element. |
| US08013975B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
An exposure apparatus includes: a first optical member via which an exposure beam exits; a first movable body movable while holding a substrate in a predetermined area; a first holding device releasably holding a first cover member, capable of forming a space retaining a liquid between the first optical member and the first cover member, such that when the first movable body is away from the first optical member, the first cover member is arranged at the position opposite to the exit surface of the first optical member; a second holding device arranged on the first movable body and capable of holding the first cover member released from the first holding device; and a third holding device arranged on the first movable body and releasably holding a second cover member. Deterioration of the performance due to the cover member can be suppressed while suppressing operating rate deterioration. |
| US08013974B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and fabricating method thereof
A thin film transistor substrate and a fabricating method that includes an opening hole that separates a gate shorting line connected to a gate shorting bar used upon a lighting-inspecting of a gate line into an odd and an even gate shorting line is provided. |
| US08013973B2 |
Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device with scribing groove
It is an object to prevent disordered orientation of liquid crystal molecules which is due to division of substrates even when a liquid crystal dripping method is used, and to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is not adversely affected even when a sealant not cured and liquid crystal are in contact. In a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal dripping method, a scribe groove is provided for at least one of a pair of substrates with a diamond cutter or the like before the pair of substrates are attached under reduced pressure. After the scribing, the pair of substrates are attached under reduced pressure, heat treatment for curing the sealant and aligning the liquid crystal molecules is performed, and the substrates are divided by applying impact using a breaking apparatus. |
| US08013966B2 |
Display panel and liquid crystal display apparatus including the same
A display panel is provided. The display panel includes a substrate and a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate and having a pair of first primary edges facing each other and a pair of second primary edges connected to the first primary edges and facing each other, wherein the second primary edges include a plurality of protrusions of the pixel electrode having the shape of sawteeth. |
| US08013964B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device uses a first quarter-wave retardation film and a hybrid aligned nematic film to reduce light leakage in dark state for reaching high contrast ratio, and uses multiple-gamma IC to provide different gamma-curve signals for pixels of different colors to solve color shift problem. In addition, the liquid crystal display device may use a second quarter-wave retardation film to reduce light leakage when viewed in a wide angle so as to further provide higher contrast ratio. |
| US08013963B2 |
Color filter, method of fabricating the same and liquid crystal display panel including the same
A color filter is described, including a first color filter layer, a first light absorbing layer, a second color filter pattern and a second light absorbing pattern. The first color filter layer is disposed over a substrate. The first light absorbing layer is disposed between the substrate and the first color filter layer. The second color filter pattern covers a portion of the first color filter layer. The second light absorbing pattern is disposed between the second color filter pattern and the first color filter layer. |
| US08013961B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An object of the present invention is to implement a bright liquid crystal display device having a high contrast ratio and a wide viewing angle. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention has: a number of data lines; gate lines formed so as to cross the number of data lines; a number of switching elements formed in locations where the number of data lines and the number of gate lines cross; a reflection area and a transmission area formed within each pixel; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between first and second substrates; a common electrode placed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer; and a pixel electrode placed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and the common electrode has slits or protrusions, and the data lines overlap the slits in the common electrode or protrusions of the common electrode in the direction of normal to a surface of the first substrate in the configuration. |
| US08013959B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having nucleus generation section
An object of the present invention is to provide a transflective type LCD device in which each of a transmissive area and a reflective area can be driven in an OCB mode, and it is possible to prevent lowering of transmittance and reflectance, and to prevent a pixel from darkening in a case where each of the transmissive area and the reflective area is driven in an OCB mode. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes, in each pixel (11), a single nucleus generation section for generating a bend nucleus for promoting a transition of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer into a bend alignment. Application of a voltage to the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive area and the reflective area carries out a transition from a spray alignment into a bend alignment in response to an applied voltage. |
| US08013956B2 |
Front filter in a flat panel display device
A front filter being attached to a front surface of a flat panel display device includes a NIR (near infrared ray) blocking film for blocking the emission of near infrared rays to outside; an EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding film for absorbing electromagnetic waves and for preventing the electromagnetic waves from being emitted to outside; a glass formed on a front surface of the EMI shielding film; and an antireflection coating for preventing incident rays from outside from reflecting back to the outside, in which the EMI shielding film includes a mesh unit formed of conductive meshes that are intersected with each other; and a mesh frame for surrounding the mesh unit to support the mesh unit and to define an effective display area on a screen. |
| US08013951B2 |
Multi-view liquid crystal display and the driving method thereof
A multi-view liquid crystal display for different users to watch different images from different viewing angles is provided. The multi-view liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a first backlight module and a second backlight module. The first backlight module is disposed below the liquid crystal display panel. The second backlight module is disposed between the first backlight module and the liquid crystal display panel. Furthermore, the first backlight module provides a first plane light source and the second backlight module provides a second plane light source. An included angle α formed between transmitting directions of the first and the second plane light sources ranges from 6 degrees to 176 degrees. Therefore, when different users watch the multi-view liquid crystal display which displays different images from different viewing angles, the resolutions of the images are the same as the resolution of the multi-view liquid crystal display panel. |
| US08013950B2 |
Optical sheet combination structure, surface emitting device, and liquid crystal device
An optical sheet combination structure disposed between a polarizer and a surface emitting unit, includes a first optical sheet having a number of columnar cubic structures of curing resin arrayed on a transparent base, a valley portion between adjacent cubic structures contacting a surface of the transparent base, and a second optical sheet disposed nearer to the side of the polarizer than the first optical sheet, having a number of columnar cubit structures arrayed on a surface, and a refractive index of the cubic structures along an extension direction thereof being different from a refractive index of the cubic structures along an array direction thereof. |
| US08013944B2 |
Display device for reducing cross-talk between displayed images
The present invention relates to a display device, intended to display different images in different angular regions in front of the display, i.e. a first image to the right and a second image to the left. The display device therefore comprises an imaging layer and a light directing layer, comprising e.g. cylindrical lenses. In order to avoid cross-talk close to where the different regions intersect, the imaging layer comprises liquid crystal cells, which, close to the normal direction of the imaging layer have low contrast and/or brightness. This substantially eliminates cross-talk between the two displayed images. |
| US08013943B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed to face each other; a display medium layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix between the first substrate and the display medium layer; a first transparent electrode, interposed between the second substrate and the display medium layer, for detecting a touched location; and a second transparent electrode, interposed between the first transparent electrode and the display medium layer, for receiving a display signal. The display device detects the touched location using a capacitive coupling method and displays an image. A shield electrode for suppressing capacitive coupling is formed between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. |
| US08013936B2 |
De-interlacing method and apparatus
A de-interlacing method is applied to a to-be-de-interlaced field including display pixels of display lines and to-be-interpolated pixels of to-be-interpolated lines. First, a corresponding edge-direction value of each of edge pixels in the to-be-de-interlaced field is determined. Next, it is judged whether one of the display pixels near each to-be-interpolated pixel has a corresponding edge-direction value so that a judgement result is obtained. Then, a corresponding edge-direction value of each to-be-interpolated pixel is set according to the corresponding edge-direction values of specific display pixels of the display pixels near the to-be-interpolated pixel if the judgement result is affirmative. Finally, a corresponding display pixel pair of up and down display lines near each to-be-interpolated pixel is selected according to the corresponding edge-direction value of each to-be-interpolated pixel so that a luminance value and a chrominance value of the to-be-interpolated pixel are calculated. |
| US08013935B2 |
Picture processing circuit and picture processing method
According to one embodiment, an image processing circuit comprising first memory unit which stores image signal, equalizing circuit which, when there is no movement between two picture signals, outputs average signal between the both signals, second memory unit which stores the average signal, pull-down detecting circuit which outputs pull-down interpolation signal for deinterlacing process from a plurality of frames of the pull-down signals when it is determined that the picture signal is based on the pull-down signals upon receipt of the average signal, an output from the second memory unit, and output from the first memory unit, interpolation signal generating circuit which generates interpolation signal, the outputs from the first and second memory units, and noninterlaced scanning conversion circuit which generates noninterlaced signal by adding the pull-down signals to the output from the second memory unit when the picture signal based on the pull-down signals. |
| US08013934B2 |
Portable electronic device with camera module
An exemplary portable electronic device includes: a main body, a camera module, a protecting cover, and a fill-in light emitting module. The camera module has a camera, and the camera module is disposed in the main body. The camera is exposed and positioned against an outer surface of the main body to take pictures. The fill-in light emitting module is fixed on the protecting cover. The protecting cover is movably connected to the main body adjacent to the camera for covering the camera or exposing the camera. |
| US08013930B2 |
Imaging apparatus and exposure control method used for the same
An imaging apparatus includes a shutter drive section, an aperture blade drive section, an ND filter drive section, a light intensity detection section, a memory, and a control section. The shutter drive section opens and closes a shutter for a light receiving surface of a solid state image sensor. The aperture blade drive section drives an aperture blade forming an aperture. The ND filter drive section adjusts the position of an ND filter against the aperture. The control section calculates the exposure control voltage representing an exposure amount from the light intensity signal output from the light intensity detection section, and reads out the F value and the shutter speed corresponding to the exposure control voltage from the exposure control table stored in the memory so as to avoid a partial application state of the ND filter, for controlling respective drive sections. |
| US08013929B2 |
Image display control apparatus
An image display control apparatus includes a determination unit (step S903) adapted to determine whether an image to be displayed is an image captured in a shooting mode in which at least one of focus adjustment, exposure control, white balance adjustment, and light control is executed on a range related to an object that is detected by an image analysis, a range determining unit (step S906) adapted to determine a range of part of the image based on information indicating a size of the detected object when the determination unit determines that the image to be displayed is the image captured in the shooting mode, and a display control unit (step S907) adapted to perform control to display the range of part of the image, which has been determined by the range determining unit. |
| US08013928B2 |
Image pickup device and camera module using the same
An image pickup device includes a signal processing unit which processes a signal generated by separating a luminous signal into wavelength components of two or more colors by use of a sensor unit including two-dimensionally arranged pixels to which a wavelength separating unit for separating light wavelengths is arranged at a front face of a photoelectric converting element which converts the luminous signal condensed by an optical lens unit into electric signals, wherein the optical lens unit includes at least one optical lens having different focusing positions in accordance with the wavelengths of the luminous signal, and the signal processing unit includes an outline signal generating unit which extracts an outline signal from an output signal of the sensor unit. |
| US08013927B2 |
Solid-state image sensors
Solid-state image sensors are disclosed that include one or more pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a photoelectric converter to convert light to an electric signal, and a microlens above the photoelectric converter. The microlens has a plan profile in which the direct distance from a center to a lens edge is variable. The microlens has first base regions and second base regions not including the first base regions. The first base regions are provided near n positions (n being a natural number) of the lens edge from which the direct distance is relatively long. The vertical height of the first base regions from an upper surface of the photoelectric converter is less than the vertical height of the second base regions from the upper surface of the photoelectric converter. |
| US08013926B2 |
Digital photo frame and method for controlling same
An exemplary digital photo frame includes an image memory configured for storing a display image, a display device configured for reading and displaying the display image, an infrared sensor configured for detecting infrared light, generating a first detecting signal when the infrared light is detected, generating a second detecting signal when the detected infrared light is no longer detectable, and a camera control circuit including a reference image therein. The camera control circuit generates an instant image and compares the instant image with the reference image when the first detecting signal is generated. The digital photo frame is configured to operate in a monitor mode or a display mode according to a comparing result when the infrared light is detected. |
| US08013925B2 |
Imaging device, display control device, display device, and image display system for improved thumbnail image display
An imaging device which is capable of realizing an easily viewable thumbnail display is provided. The imaging device includes: an imaging optical system for forming an optical image of an object; an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image of the object formed by the imaging optical system, for converting the received optical image into an electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal; an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting; an image recording section for interrelating and recording the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude; a display section for displaying a reduced image based on the recorded image signal; a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and an image display control section for changing a location and a display size of the reduced image on the display section in accordance with the selected attitude information. The image display control section restores an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information, and causes the display section to display the restored reduced image. |
| US08013920B2 |
Imaging system for creating an image of an object
An imaging system provides a serial video signal that is indicative of the intensity of the light. The imaging system has an array of pixel image sensors arranged in rows and columns. A control circuit is in communication with the rows of the array and the plurality of column switches. The control circuit generates reset control signals, transfer gating signals, pixel image sensor initiation signals for each selected row for controlling resetting, integration of photoelectrons generated from the light impinging upon the array of pixel image sensors, charge transfer of the photoelectrons from the photosensing devices to the charge storage device, and to activate the photoelectron sensing devices on each row to generate output signals from each of the pixel image sensors on a selected row. The control circuit generates the column selection signals for transfer of the output signals from selected rows to form a serial video output signal. |
| US08013918B2 |
Image capturing apparatus including an image sensor having three photoelectric conversion characteristics with each corresponding to a range of luminance intensity
There is described an image capturing apparatus, which makes it possible to unify the gradation characteristics all over the captured image into the same characteristic. The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor that is provided with a first photoelectric conversion characteristic, a second photoelectric conversion characteristic being different from the first photoelectric conversion characteristic and a third photoelectric conversion characteristic being a transient characteristic between the first photoelectric conversion characteristic and the second photoelectric conversion characteristic; and a characteristic converting section to convert the first photoelectric conversion characteristic, the second photoelectric conversion characteristic and the third photoelectric conversion characteristic to a reference photoelectric conversion characteristic. The first photoelectric conversion characteristic is a linear characteristic, the second photoelectric conversion characteristic is a logarithmic characteristic and the reference photoelectric conversion characteristic is either a linear or a logarithmic characteristic. |
| US08013911B2 |
Method for mixing high-gain and low-gain signal for wide dynamic range image sensor
A wide dynamic range image sensor method combines the response of high-gain sensing cells and low-gain sensing cells with better linearity than the prior art. A search is made in successive central regions within the response curve of the high-gain and low-gain cells to find a highest slope linear fit. This highest slope and the corresponding offset are used in mixing the high-gain and low-gain responses to achieve a wide dynamic range. |
| US08013910B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging circuit and imaging method
An image by using a solid-state imaging sensor, the imaging apparatus including: a compression section configured to compress image data by dividing the image data into blocks each composed of same color component pixels adjacent to each other as a unit of compression; a memory used for temporarily storing compressed image data; a decompression section configured to decompress the compressed image data read out from the memory; and a signal processing section configured to carry out an image-quality correction process on decompressed image data, wherein each of the blocks is split in advance into two quantization-subject areas, block types are distinguished from each other by the position of the inter-area boundary between the two quantization-subject areas, and the compression section has a dynamic-range computation sub-section, a block-type select sub-section, and a quantization processing sub-section are provided. |
| US08013909B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting exposure in digital imaging
The invention relates to electronic equipment for performing imaging, including a camera (CAM) for forming image frames (FRp, FRc), using set exposure parameters (ET, AG, DG), and a unit for determining the total exposure level (EV), from at least some of the image frames, and a unit for adjusting the said exposure parameters on the basis of the determined total exposure level of the exposure. In addition, the equipment also includes a motion-detection for detecting movement from at least some of the image frames. In the equipment the exposure parameters are arranged to be adjusted on the basis of the said total exposure level of the exposure and the detected movement. |
| US08013907B2 |
System and method for adaptive local white balance adjustment
The disclosure describes embodiments of an apparatus comprising an image sensor including a pixel array having a plurality of pixels and an automatic white balance (AWB) circuit coupled to the pixel array. The AWB circuit is used to determine a local white balance component for each pixel, determine a global white balance component for each pixel, and apply a white balance adjustment to each pixel, the applied white balance adjustment comprising a combination of the local white balance component and the global white balance component. The disclosure also describes embodiment of a process including receiving image data from each pixel in a pixel array, determining a local white balance component for the image data from each pixel, determining a global white balance component for the image data from each pixel, and applying a white balance adjustment to the image data from each pixel, the applied white balance adjustment comprising a combination of the local white balance component and the global white balance component. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08013901B2 |
Imaging apparatus and a camera for vehicles
A camera apparatus for vehicles including an imaging element and a lens comprises a gradation generation unit for stepwise changing the light amount reaching a whole or part of the imaging element. By this, a gradation region is formed on the imaging element and it absorbs assembling errors during manufacturing and positional shifts attributed to a road surface slope or the like. Even when an inverse light state is caused, it is possible to improve the image processing performance with an ecconomical configuration. |
| US08013898B2 |
External storage device for image pickup apparatus, control method therefor, image pickup apparatus and control method therefor
An external storage device is connected to an image pickup apparatus provided with a first image storage medium capable of storing plural taken images and image display means, and adapted for backup of image information stored in the first image storage medium. The device includes a second image storage medium, a connection detecting unit, a reception unit, a transfer means, a conversion unit, and a second transfer unit. The transfer unit writes predetermined taken image information read from the first image storage medium into the second image storage medium and erases the predetermined taken image information from the first image storage medium according to a detection output of the connection detecting unit and an output of the reception unit. The conversion unit converts the predetermined taken image information into an image matching a display ability of the image display means. The second transfer unit writes the converted image information in the first image storage medium. |
| US08013892B2 |
Photographing apparatus, control method for lens barrel of photographing appartus, printer, control method for printer, and printing system
In this photographing apparatus, when it is recognized that communication with an external device is possible, the operating mode is set to the communication mode, in which communication can be carried out with the external device. Once there is communication connection with the external device, signals to change the mode from the mode selecting device, which directs the operating mode of the photography apparatus, are ignored, and a shift from the communication mode to another mode is prohibited. |
| US08013890B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for recognizing an object with color
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an image-capturing module configured to captures an image, a module configured to detect a first object region from the image, a module configured to extract color information of an image of the first object region, a module configured to detect candidates of a second object region, which is an object of recognition, from the image, a module configured to extract color information of an image of the second object region, and sets reference color data, a module configured to select the candidates of the second object region on the basis of the reference color data and the color information of the image of the first object region with respect to each of the candidates of the second object region, and a module configured to output, as an object of recognition, any one of the candidates of the second object region. |
| US08013888B2 |
Method and system for implementing film grain insertion
Aspects of a system and method for processing video data may comprise, for each line of a field of an image, generating noise based on a current seed, inserting the generated noise in a current line of the field, and generating a new seed for processing a subsequent line of the field by shifting the current seed. The current seed may be used to generate a random number and the generated noise may be produced using this generated random number. |
| US08013885B2 |
Printer and recording method
A printer comprises a recording portion with a thermal recording head for recording on a surface of a recording medium and a first conveying mechanism that conveys the recording medium. A thermal activation portion has a thermal activation head for heating another surface of the recording medium and a second conveying mechanism for conveying the recording medium. First and second discharge ports are disposed on a downstream side of the first and second conveying mechanisms, respectively. A pair of conveying rollers is arranged between the recording portion and the first discharge port and between the first discharge port and the thermal activation portion. The conveying rollers convey the recording medium from the recording portion to the first discharge port through normal rotation of the conveying rollers, change a conveyance course of the recording medium conveyed from the recording portion, and convey the recording medium to the thermal activation portion through reverse rotation of the conveying rollers. |
| US08013882B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include a casing including an image forming section, an ejecting section provided above the image forming section and an image scanning section provided above the ejecting section, formed with an ejecting port communicating with the ejecting section; and an operating section. A side surface of the casing closer to the ejecting port includes a generally vertical surface and an upper surface of the casing includes a generally horizontal surface. The casing is provided with an inclined surface inclined along a direction intersecting with the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface for connecting the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface with each other, and the ejecting port is formed on the inclined surface, while the operating section is arranged above the ejecting port on the inclined surface. |
| US08013881B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method
A liquid ejecting apparatus for forming a multicolored image on a recording medium includes: a printing head for ejecting a plurality of colors; a head driving section that performs a main scanning for moving the printing head in a main scanning direction; a transporting section that transports the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction; and a dot control section that controls the head driving section and the transporting section so as to form an image on the recording medium by ejecting the liquids on the recording medium from the nozzle while repeatedly performing the main scanning for moving the printing head in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning for transporting the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. |
| US08013878B2 |
Apparatus for automatically setting over-driving look-up table for liquid crystal display device and control method thereof
An over-driving look-up table automatic setting apparatus for a liquid crystal display device includes: an input device that specifies a critical response condition for a liquid crystal display device; a sensor that detects an amount of light from the liquid crystal display device and that generates a signal corresponding to the amount of light; a response state detecting unit that measures the response state from the signal generated by the sensor; a controller that receives the response state for gray scale differences from each of a plurality of gray scale values to determine transient pixel data producing a response state that satisfies the critical response condition and that sets an over-driving look-up table by mapping the transient pixel data to corresponding gray scale difference values for each gray scale value; and a memory that stores the over-driving look-up table. |
| US08013877B2 |
Method and device of rapidly generating a gray-level versus brightness curve of a display
A method for rapidly generating the gray-level versus brightness curve of a display includes the step of obtaining a portion of the gray-level values and their corresponding brightness values. These values are then used in a mathematical formula to find variables to obtain the gray-level versus brightness curve. |
| US08013876B2 |
Flat panel display and method of controlling picture quality thereof
This invention relates to a flat panel display device that is adaptive for optimizing data, which are to be displayed in a panel defect area, in used of a compensation value of a compensation circuit as well as compensating defect pixels by a repair process, and a method of controlling a picture quality thereof. A flat panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel; a memory which stores a first compensation data, a second compensation data and a third compensation data; a first compensation part; a second compensation part; a third compensation part; and a driver for driving the display panel in use of the data modulated by the first to third compensation parts. |
| US08013871B2 |
Apparatus and methods for selective color editing of color profiles
Apparatus and methods are provided for editing color profiles. In particular, an output color including a first hue, a first lightness and a first chroma is received, and a first range of lightness values and a first range of chroma values for all output color values in the color profile are determined. A second range of lightness values of output color values in the color profile that have the first hue and the first chroma, and a second range of chroma values of output color values in the color profile that have the first hue and the first lightness are determined. Graphical representations of the first and second ranges of lightness values, and the first and second ranges of chroma values are distinctly displayed on a display device. A user interface is provided that allows a user to create an edited output color including a second hue, a second lightness and a second chroma, and dynamically modify the second range of lightness values and the second range of chroma values based on the edited output color. |
| US08013870B2 |
Image masks generated from local color models
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, feature receiving an image mask where the image mask identifies a first opacity value of pixels in a raster image. The first opacity value ranges between a value representing foreground and a value representing background. Each pixel in the image has a color. A first boundary pixel is identified in the image. A second opacity value for the first boundary pixel is determined using a first local color model of opacity. The first local color model of opacity is determined based on the colors of the pixels in the image within a local neighborhood of the first boundary pixel. |
| US08013867B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing improved gamut mapping algorithms
Techniques for modifying aspects of the gamut mapping function in a multi-primary display system influence the performance of the display or the perception of certain ones of the colors. One embodiment of the system comprises a method for selecting a metamer. Other embodiments provide methods for modifying the output color produced by the gamut mapping operation for input colors that are on the darker or brighter surfaces of the input color gamut, or for certain out-of-gamut colors such as yellow colors. |
| US08013865B2 |
Program, information storage medium, image generation system, and image generation method for generating an image for overdriving the display device
An image generation system including: a drawing section which draws an object to generate image data; and an overdrive effect processing section which performs overdrive effect processing for the generated image data and generates image data to be output to a display section. The overdrive effect processing section performs the overdrive effect processing based on differential image data between image data generated in a Kth frame and image data generated in a Jth frame (K>J). |
| US08013863B2 |
Methods and systems for providing texture tiling and mirroring
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing texture tiling. The disclosed systems and methods may include copying a source image into a texture of a size the same or larger than the source image. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include displacing texture coordinates corresponding to the texture into a desired range. A displacement map may be used in displacing the texture coordinates. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include rendering, within the desired range, an output image corresponding to the texture coordinates associated with the texture. |
| US08013861B2 |
Reducing a display quality of an area in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources
Described herein are processes and devices that reduce a display quality of an area of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. One of the devices described is a virtual resource conserver. The virtual resource conserver determines, or selects, an area in the virtual universe. A computing resource processes data for presenting the area in the virtual universe. The virtual resource conserver evaluates significance factors about the area to determine a significance of how the area is being used, or an extent to which an area is being viewed by an avatar. The virtual resource conserver reduces a display quality of the area based on the significance of how the area is being used or viewed. The virtual resource conserver thus reduces usage of the computing resource. |
| US08013859B2 |
Graphical display for illustrating effectiveness of resource management and resource balancing
A graphical display combines multiple dimensions of information relating to resource allocation and usage by a group of computer systems and sub-systems of the computer systems. The graphical display includes a series of graphics, each indicating resource usage by one of the computer systems. In addition, each graphic has multiple sections. Each section of the graphic indicates resource usage by a sub-system that is within the computer system represented by the graphic. Each section of the graphics may also be color-coded. The color code indicates the amount of resources the associated sub-system is receiving relative to the amount of resources that has been designated for that sub-system. |
| US08013858B2 |
Statistical waveform drawing routine
A statistical waveform drawing routine includes forming an image, determining discrete points of the image, forming count totals of the number of discrete points of the image in a sweep of the discrete points in a first direction, and determining a statistical value according to the count totals of the discrete points. |
| US08013857B2 |
Method for hybrid rasterization and raytracing with consistent programmable shading
A method of generating a computer image wherein secondary raytrace vectors are calculated for the image after the image is rendered using rasterization. The secondary raytrace vectors are based on virtual camera angles that are stored during the rasterization process. The raytrace vectors can be calculated using the same processor as the rasterization, thereby providing greater consistency in the image. A metaprogrammed shader can also be applied to the generated image, wherein the shader uses the same processor as the raytrace and rasterization steps. The metaprogrammed shader allows the shader algorithm to be segmented for streamlined processing by the processor. |
| US08013856B2 |
Image processing method
This invention provides an image processing method for projecting a virtual ray onto volume data to create an image and making it possible to realize speeding up without performing preprocessing. A virtual ray 22 is projected from an eye O onto an object 21, a position P at which the remaining light amount of the virtual ray 22 first attenuates is acquired, and a traveling distance d of the virtual ray 22 at the position P is acquired. To project an adjacent virtual ray 23, the virtual ray 23 is projected from a position O2 offset distance Δd smaller than the traveling distance d from the eye O by a predetermined value. Thus, when projection processing is performed, depth information d of the position P at which a first object is acquired on the virtual ray is stored and an adjacent virtual ray is projected from the position O2 offset Δd slightly smaller than the depth d, thereby skipping calculation. |
| US08013852B2 |
Anthropometry-based skeleton fitting
An efficient technique to build subject-specific skeleton models from external measurements is provided. A generic human skeleton model is manipulated and deformed using marker positional data from human motion-captured sequences. The joint and bone geometry parameters are optimized to construct an estimate of the specific skeleton model of the human subject that originally performed the motion sequence. The scope of the fitting procedure can be adjusted to coincide with a series of smaller optimizations over local bone regions or expanded to a single global optimization over all skeleton geometry and joint parameters simultaneously. |
| US08013849B2 |
Active-matrix device, electro-optical display device, and electronic apparatus
An active-matrix device includes a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a first surface of the substrate; a plurality of switching elements provided to correspond to each of the pixel electrodes, each of the switching elements including a fixed electrode connected to the each pixel electrode, a movable electrode mainly made of silicon and displaceably provided so as to contact with and separate from the fixed electrode, and a driving electrode provided to oppose the movable electrode via an electrostatic gap; a first wiring connected to the movable electrode; and a second wiring connected to the driving electrode, wherein a voltage is applied between the movable electrode and the driving electrode to generate an electrostatic attraction between the movable electrode and the driving electrode so as to displace the movable electrode such that the movable electrode contacts with the fixed electrode to electrically connect the first wiring to the pixel electrode. |
| US08013848B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus includes a light source; a light modulation element modulating illumination light coming from the light source on the basis of image data; an illumination area modification unit capable of reducing an illumination area for the light modulation element in order to illuminate a specific image-forming area in the image-forming area of the light modulation element; and an image display-processing unit having an illumination area control unit for controlling the illumination area modification unit and a resolution conversion unit for converting a resolution of the image data into a resolution corresponding to the specific image-forming area. |
| US08013845B2 |
Optical touch pad with multilayer waveguide
An optical touch pad that includes a multilayer waveguide optically coupled to at least one electromagnetic radiation detector. Based on electromagnetic radiation directed from an object to the detector by the multilayer waveguide, information related to an object proximate to (e.g., hovering above) and/or in contact with the optical touch pad may be determined. For example, the information related to the object may include position information, object-type information, and/or other information related to the object. |
| US08013835B2 |
Computer system having shared display devices
A computer system includes a first electronic device having a first display. The first display includes a first electronic image having an anchor point. The computer system also includes a second electronic device that is moveable relative to the first electronic device. The second electronic device includes a movement sensor and a second display operatively connected with the first display. The second display includes a second electronic image that is associated with the first electronic image. Upon sensing movement of the second electronic device relative to the first electronic device, the movement sensor determines a direction of the movement relative to the anchor point and triggers a shifting of the second electronic image relative to the anchor point of the first electronic image. |
| US08013833B2 |
Tag information display control apparatus, information processing apparatus, display apparatus, tag information display control method and recording medium
A tag information display control apparatus disclosed allows information regarding a particular partial region in moving pictures to be displayed on a screen only by clicking the partial region. Movement of a pointer in a screen by a viewer of a main image is accepted, and the position of the pointer in the screen is acquired. A key image reproduced in synchronism with the main image is referred to decide whether the pointer is within a key region. Region identification information set with regard to the key region is read out when the pointer is within the key region. Index information with link information is referred to based on the region identification information together with time information of the key image to read out corresponding link information. Related information is acquired from a linking destination specified with the link information and is displayed. |
| US08013830B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight module, a dimming control unit and a backlight module driving circuit. The liquid crystal display panel has a first display area and a second display area. The backlight module includes a plurality of lighting devices respectively corresponding to pixels in the first display area and the second display area. The dimming control unit generates at least one dimming control signal having a dimming frequency which is a multiple of a frame rate of the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight module driving circuit periodically drives the lighting devices in sequence according to the dimming control signal. |
| US08013829B2 |
Liquid crystal display having black insertion controller selecting black insertion control signals according to data stored therein and driving method thereof
An exemplary liquid crystal display (300) includes a liquid crystal panel (301), a data circuit (303), and a black insertion controller (305). The liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of pixels (330). The black insertion controller receives a display signal of the pixel, and generates a black insertion control signal according to an address of the pixel, and the data circuit drives the pixel to display one of a black image unit and a normal image unit according to the black insertion control signal in a first sub-frame period of a frame period. The displayed black image unit of the pixel or the displayed normal image unit is converted into a normal image unit or a black image unit in a second sub-frame period of the frame period. A method for driving the liquid crystal display is also provided. |
| US08013827B2 |
Image display device
The present invention provides an image display device that is capable of reducing the power consumption. The total power consumption of a level shifter is reduced by using a pulse of an oscillator circuit as an enable signal of a level shifter for amplifying the enable signal to be supplied to a group of level shifters. The image display device includes an oscillator circuit, a first level shifter, and a plurality of second level shifters, which are mounted on a substrate and formed with thin-film transistors. The plurality of second level shifters each has a shutdown function for reducing the power consumption of the level shifters. The shutdown function of the first level shifter is controlled by an output pulse of the oscillator circuit. The shutdown function of the group of second level shifters is controlled by an output pulse of the first level shifter. |
| US08013822B2 |
Method of driving display element
In a display element using cholesteric liquid crystal, to enable a high-speed partial screen rewrite, a region not to be partially rewritten is scanned in high-speed mode within the tolerance of crosstalk of the liquid crystal, and a region to be partially rewritten is partially rewritten by being scanned at a normal speed within a rewritable range with an inexpensive universal driver. As a result, a high-speed rewrite only to an arbitrary particular region can be made even with an inexpensive universal driver IC. |
| US08013818B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing and spaced apart from each other, a gate line and a data line on the first substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing each other to define red, green, blue and white sub-pixel regions, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a color filter layer consisting of red, green and blue color filters on the second substrate, the red, green and blue color filters corresponding to the red, green and blue sub-pixel regions, respectively, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08013817B2 |
Electronic display having improved uniformity
A display with improved visual uniformity, comprised of an array of independently-addressable light-emitting elements, including at least a first independently-addressable light-emitting element for producing a first color of light and a second independently-addressable light-emitting element for producing a second color of light; wherein at least the first independently-addressable light-emitting element is subdivided into at least two spatially separated commonly-addressed light-emitting areas and wherein at least a portion of the second independently-addressable light-emitting element is positioned between the spatially separated commonly-addressed light-emitting areas of the first independently-addressable light-emitting element. |
| US08013815B2 |
Organic electro luminescence display device
An active matrix organic electro luminescence display in which two opposite pixels are formed in one pixel portion to achieve a high aperture ratio and to facilitate a fabrication process. The organic electro luminescence display is constructed with gate lines, data lines, and power lines which are formed on an insulating substrate, and pixel regions which is defined by the gate lines, the data lines and the power lines, wherein each of the pixel regions includes two opposite pixels, and the pixel regions are arranged in a matrix form. |
| US08013813B2 |
Active matrix-type display device
When performing gradation expression using a time division driving method, an operational frequency of a driving circuit is suppressed, and non-light emitting time is eliminated to increase the light emitting time. Each of a number of pixel circuits includes a light emitting element, a driver element for turning on or off a driving current of the light emitting element, a switching element for controlling connection of a gate electrode of the driver element with a signal line, and a capacitance to which a signal voltage supplied from the signal line to the gate electrode of the driver element is written. |
| US08013812B2 |
Pixel circuit and display device
A pixel circuit includes: a switching transistor whose conduction is controlled by a drive signal supplied to the control terminal; a drive wiring adapted to propagate the drive signal; and a data wiring adapted to propagate a data signal. The drive wiring is formed on a first wiring layer and connected to the control terminal of the switching transistor. The data wiring is formed on a second wiring layer and connected to a first terminal of the switching transistor. A multi-layered wiring structure is used so that the second wiring layer is formed on a layer different from that on which the first wiring layer is formed. |
| US08013811B2 |
Image display device
An image display device incorporates a group of pixels of two or more types, each pixel including a light source whose primary wavelength is specific to the type of pixel; a generating device for generating analog pixel signals to be input to the group of pixels from input digital pixel data, wherein the generating device has a converter to convert input digital pixel data into different output digital pixel data appropriate for each type of pixel where the output digital pixel data contains more bits than the input digital pixel data; and an input device for inputting the analog pixel signals to the group of pixels, each pixel including a light emission driver for driving the light source according to the analog pixel signal. An organic EL display device having individual R, G, and B light emission elements enables displaying in desired colors and controllable tones with reduced packaging area for the components of the organic EL display. |
| US08013807B2 |
Plasma display device
A display apparatus includes a plasma display panel (PDP) having an upper substrate at which black matrices are disposed. The apparatus includes an external light shield having a panel side facing a display surface of the PDP and an opposing viewer side facing away from the display surface. The light shield includes a base unit and includes pattern units that absorb external light from the viewer side. The pattern units have boundaries defined by intersections of the pattern units and the base unit. The boundaries define widths of pattern tops disposed toward the panel side or the viewer side and define widths of pattern bottoms disposed toward the other of the panel side and the viewer side. A distance between a pair of adjacent black matrices is 4 to 12 times greater than a distance between adjacent boundaries, of a pair of adjacent pattern units, at adjacent pattern bottoms. |
| US08013806B2 |
Display device
Image display apparatus comprising two or more arrays of light sources is described. Each array is rotatable around a common axis, and the light sources in each array are arranged so that each light source traverses along a unique path around the common axis. A controller is adapted to modulate the intensity of light emitted by each light source as it traverses its respective unique path such that the light sources in combination cause a desired image to be visible to an observer by virtue of persistence of vision. |
| US08013802B2 |
Portable radar fairing
A portable fairing for a mobile radar array system includes at least partially open housing surrounding the mobile radar array and a curved covering mounted on the housing. The curved covering is adapted to cover the radar array in a closed position. The sides of the housing are curved such that when the curved covering is closed, the housing and the curved covering form a generally curved structure. |
| US08013799B2 |
Dual-band monopole antenna with antenna signal fed through short-circuit terminal of transmission line
Disclosed is a dual-band monopole antenna with antenna signal fed through a short-circuit terminal of a transmission line load. The dual-band monopole antenna includes an antenna extension section and a transmission line load. The antenna extension section has a top terminal and a transmission line connection terminal. The transmission line connection terminal is connected to the transmission line load. The transmission line load includes a core transmission line, an outer circumferential conductor, and a dielectric layer. The core transmission line has an extension section connection terminal and a signal feeding terminal. The extension section connection terminal is connected to the transmission line connection terminal of the antenna extension section. The outer circumferential conductor circumferentially surrounds and is spaced from the core transmission line by a given distance and the outer circumferential conductor has an open terminal and a short-circuit terminal. |
| US08013791B1 |
Phased array system using baseband phase shifting
A method of spatial control of a phased array system having a plurality of antenna elements is provided. The method includes providing a baseband signal, baseband phase shifting the baseband signal to provide a plurality of baseband shifted signals for controlling phase of each of the plurality of antenna elements, upconverting each of the baseband shifted signals to a radio frequency signal, and applying each of the radio frequency signals to the plurality of antenna elements to thereby provide for spatial control of the phased array system. A hardware architecture for a phased array system is also provided. |
| US08013788B2 |
Assistance to a mobile SPS receiver
A method is described, for use with an SPS mobile terminal receiver 102, of providing a compact assistance vector to initialize and constrain the computation of the terminal's location within a region of validity. The compact assistance vector is provided to a computing node 108 able also to obtain measurements from a mobile terminal satellite positioning system receiver within said region. For a known reference point 104 within the region, the range or ranges from the reference point to one or more satellites 101 of the satellite positioning system are obtained. The range or ranges are represented by a number or numbers of ranging code repeat intervals in a limited resolution format. The compact assistance vector is created from the representation or representations of ranging code repeat intervals and transferred to the computing node 108. The compact assistance vector can then be used to initialize a location computation for the SPS mobile terminal receiver 102. |
| US08013780B2 |
Radar sensing system for vehicle
A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device, a cover panel and a control. The radar sensor device is disposed at a pocket established at an upper edge of the vehicle windshield and having a forward transmitting and receiving direction that is not through the windshield. The cover panel is disposed at the radar sensor device and is substantially sealed at the vehicle windshield at or near the pocket at the upper edge of the vehicle windshield. The cover panel has a material that is substantially transmissive to radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves. The radar sensor device emits radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves that transmit through the cover panel. The control is responsive to an output of the radar sensor device. |
| US08013779B2 |
Airborne radar notably for a drone
The present disclosure relates to an airborne radar notably for a drone. In at least one embodiment, the airborne radar has a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is mechanically attached to an aircraft carrying the radar. The first structure has a degree of rotational freedom relative to the aircraft on a first axis. The second structure is attached to the first structure. The second structure has a degree of rotational freedom relative to the first structure on a second axis converging with the first axis. An antenna is attached to the second structure and configured to receive and send electromagnetic waves. An electronic module configured to process the electromagnetic waves sent or received by the antenna is attached to the second structure. |
| US08013778B2 |
High-resolution synthetic aperture radar device and antenna for one such radar
The invention relates to a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar device (10) comprising at least one transmitting antenna (TX1-TX3) for producing and emitting radar pulses for scanning an object (12), a receiving antenna (14) for receiving the radar beams (20, 22, 24) emitted and reflected by an object, wherein the receiving antenna (14) has several sub-apertures (RX1-RX17) arranged along elevation, which form a minimum of azimuth apertures, wherein the high-resolution synthetic aperture radar device is embodied such that pulse signals (18) are emitted at irregular time intervals. |
| US08013776B2 |
Radar camouflage fabric
A radar camouflage fabric comprising a base fabric layer and a conductive garnish fabric layer attached to the base fabric layer. The conductive garnish fabric layer comprises a conductive polymer coating and a plurality of holes. The radar camouflage fabric has an average microwave transmission of less than 50% at 6-8 GHz and the conductive garnish fabric layer has an electrical surface resistance less than the electrical surface resistance of the base fabric layer. |
| US08013772B2 |
Reduced area digital-to-analog converter
One embodiment of the invention includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) system. A resistive ladder comprises a plurality of resistors having an approximately equal resistance and is arranged in a respective plurality of resistive rungs between first and second ends of the resistive ladder. The first end of the resistive ladder can be coupled to an output and at least a portion of the plurality of resistors between the first end and the second end of the resistive ladder can have a physical size that is descending size-scaled in a direction from the first end of the resistive ladder to the second end of the resistive ladder. A switching circuit is configured to connect each of the plurality of resistive rungs to one of a first voltage and a second voltage based on a binary value of a digital input signal to generate a corresponding analog output voltage at the output. |
| US08013771B2 |
Method and apparatus for bandpass digital-to-analog conversion
The disclosed embodiments provide method and apparatus for digital to analog conversion of a signal that may be limited to a bandpass frequency. In an exemplary embodiment, a bandpass DAC is disclosed which includes a plurality of gates. Each gate receives a carrier signal and one of a plurality of input bits of a digital data. A combiner network is provided which includes a plurality of lossless elements corresponding to each of the plurality of gates. The combiner network receives the gate outputs and provides a digitally weighted signal. A resonating element connected to the combiner network resonates the combiner network and provides a filtered output signal which is linearly combined. |
| US08013770B2 |
Decoder architecture with sub-thermometer codes for DACs
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting a digital signal to an analog signal includes a first thermometer decoder and a second thermometer decoder. The first thermometer decoder is configured to decode most-significant bits (MSBs) of the digital signal to generate a first thermometer code. The second thermometer decoder is configured to decode middle bits of the digital signal to generate a second thermometer code. The DAC further includes a plurality of macro cells with each controlled by one bit of the first thermometer code. The plurality of macro cells is configured to provide a first analog signal according to the first thermometer code. The DAC further includes a macro cell configured to provide a second analog signal according to the second thermometer code. The macro cell is further configured to provide a third analog signal according to least-significant bits (LSBs) of the digital signal. |
| US08013769B2 |
Digital-to-analog converter and method of digital-to-analog conversion
In one embodiment, the DAC includes an analog gray voltage generation unit configured to generate a plurality of analog gray voltages, and a first decoder configured to select two different voltages of the plurality of the gray voltages as a first level voltage and a second level voltage, respectively, in response to an upper K-bits of N-bit input image data. Here, N may be an integer not less than two, and K may be an integer less than N. A second decoder may be configured to repeatedly distribute the first level voltage and the second level voltage to output a plurality of distributed voltages in response to a lower L-bits of the N-bit input image data. Here, L may be equal to N subtracted by K, and L may be less than K. An interpolated voltage generation unit may be configured to generate an interpolated voltage based on the plurality of distributed voltages. |
| US08013768B2 |
Integrated upstream amplifier for cable modems and cable set-top boxes
An upstream amplifier is integrated on a substrate with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to form an integrated circuit. In an embodiment, a low-pass filter is also integrated on the substrate. The output signal level of the upstream amplifier is controllable. In embodiments, fine adjustments are made to the output signal level of the upstream amplifier by varying a bias current of the DAC. A software control bit is used to switch between a power-on mode of operation and a power-down mode of operation. The upstream amplifier transmits in a burst mode. The power consumption of the upstream amplifier scales with the amplifier's output signal level. A high degree of matching is attained between the positive and negative paths of the upstream amplifier. This provides high immunity from common-mode disturbances such as substrate noise, clock spurs, and glitches caused by a gain change. |
| US08013765B1 |
Modular scaleable processing engine for accelerating variable length coding
A mechanism for efficient CAVLC coding in a hardware implementation of a H.264 coder is provided. In an embodiment of the present invention, multiple modular CAVLC engines that each process one sub-macroblock of data are used. An assembler engine that combines the CAVLC-encoded sub-macroblock data from each modular CAVLC engine to form a output bit-stream is also provided. |
| US08013764B1 |
Method and apparatus for shifting the bits of a wide data word
In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for shifting the bits of a data word are disclosed. For example, a deserializer according to one embodiment includes an input register bank for capturing serial data comprising n bits, an intermediate register bank, and a strobe mux coupled to an input of the intermediate register bank. An input of the intermediate register bank is coupled to an output of the input register bank. The strobe mux comprises a single multiplexer configured to select a bitslip strobe signal that controls an order in which the n bits of the serial data are captured in the intermediate register bank. |
| US08013761B2 |
Switching matrix for an input device
The invention relates to a switching matrix for an input device such as a keyboard or a cursor device for the detection of different switching states. According to the invention the switching matrix has a group electrically connected to a microcontroller, with a plurality of N input and output lines (I/O-lines) with a serially connected terminating resistor to mass each and a group with a plurality of K switching lines with one switching element each. Each switching line connects two of the N I/O lines to each other. The K switching line have an additional series resistor each. According to an interrogation pattern, a first I/O-line as output line is configured with a high potential, a second I/O-line is configured as input line and each further I/O-line as output line is configured with a low potential of the microcontroller. |
| US08013760B2 |
High occupancy vehicle status signaling using electronic toll collection infrastructure
An electronic toll collection system, reader, method and transponder for communicating occupancy status. The vehicle-mounted transponder includes a selection device that permits a user to select between a normal and high occupancy state. The transponder reports its occupancy status to a reader. If the electronic toll collection system processes a toll transaction and the transponder claims high occupancy status during the toll transaction, the fact that high occupancy status was claimed during the transaction is recorded in memory within the transponder for later enforcement and verification purposes. |
| US08013757B2 |
Method and arrangement for registering and evaluating energy consumption
Registering energy consumption in part of a building, an item of state information of at least one energy load being acquired, the state information being transmitted to a control center, and the state information, a state duration and a specific statement of the consumption of the energy load being used to determine and evaluate the energy consumption in the control center. It is possible to dispense with separate energy consumption measuring units as a result of the energy consumption being registered by multiplying the switched-on duration by a specific statement of the energy consumption (that is to say power) of the energy load. |
| US08013754B2 |
Methods and systems for providing audible content with training information
An audible playback device that allows an athlete, such as a runner, to conveniently listen to audible content and receive athletic performance information. A single device may be employed to both playback audible content and provide monitored performance information to a user. The performance information may be provided to a user audibly, so that the user does not need to move the monitoring device's user interface to a viewable position. |
| US08013751B2 |
Fire alarm with a transmitter spaced from a receiver through a colored sheet
The present invention relates to a fire alarm 1 that includes a base 1.5 and a fire alarm insert which can be connected to base 1.5. A covering cap 3 and a sheet 2, 2.1 located between the covering cap 3 and the fire alarm insert 1.1 are provided to cover fire alarm insert 1.1. |
| US08013748B2 |
System for monitoring temperature and slope of a wafer and a method thereof
A method for monitoring the temperature and slope of a wafer is presented, and the steps of the method comprises: (a) providing a cooling machine, a monitoring system, a sensing module, and a wafer; (b) cooling the wafer by the cooling machine; (c) sensing all regions of the wafer by the sensing module, and detecting the temperature and slope of the wafer relative to the cooling machine; (d) if the wafer's temperature is higher than a set temperature, the monitoring system outputs a first alarm signal, if the wafer's slope is greater than a set slope, the monitoring system outputs a second alarm signal. |
| US08013747B2 |
Driving safety warning method and device for a drowsy or distracted driver
A driving safety warning device includes a central processing unit (CPU); an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration value of a car having the driving safety warning device installed therein, and sending the sensed acceleration value to the CPU for calculating, so as to obtain a driving speed value; and a gyro sensor for sensing a deviation angular speed value of the car in moving, and sending the sensed deviation angular speed value to the CPU for calculating. When the obtained driving speed value exceeds a preset value, a driving safety warning function is actuated; and when the obtained deviation angular speed value exceeds a preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value or exceeds a preset safety deviation angular speed value for wandering car while a timer is enabled and a reverse sway occurs when the timer is counting, a warning sound is emitted to remind the driver. |
| US08013746B2 |
Method of providing alarm service upon movement out of safety zone
Disclosed herein is a method of providing alarm service upon movement out of a safety zone in a mobile communication network. The method is implemented in such a way as to acquire past location registration information for a ward's mobile terminal designated by a subscriber (guardian), the past location registration information being base station identifiers associated with base stations at which the past locations of the ward's mobile terminal has previously been registered, store the acquired past location registration information to a My Base Station DB allocated to the ward, check base station information, associated with a base station at which the current location of the ward's mobile terminal has been registered, at the time of an observation request, determine whether base station information has been stored in the My Base Station DB, detect movement out of the safety zone when the base station information has not been stored in the My Base Station DB, and notify the subscriber of movement out of the safety zone. |
| US08013741B2 |
Evidence tracking
A system uses a large loop antenna, connected with a transceiver operating below 1 MHz. The loop antenna is deployed from a spool to surround a crime scene, and may carry indicia communicating that it is a crime scene boundary. The system interrogates devices, including evidence bags and badged personnel, as they enter and leave the scene. The system can optionally log the time of salient events. A second loop antenna can log evidence bags as they enter a vehicle. The devices can be silenced by the transceiver and thus collisions can be reduced and avoided among responses from devices. The system performs “area reads” that would not be possible if higher RF frequencies were employed. |
| US08013739B2 |
Graphical user interface for emergency apparatus and method for operating same
A communications system for emergency services personnel can include portable devices to be carried by emergency services personnel while at an emergency site. The portable devices each may have at least a first transceiver configured to communicate over a first network and the portable devices are configured to communicate with one another. The system may also include a portable gateway apparatus. The portable gateway apparatus may have a portable computer having a graphical user interface (GUI) and a PCMCIA or smaller card that itself includes at least a first radio. The first radio is configured to communicate over the first network to obtain status information from the portable devices carried by the emergency services personnel. The GUI is configured to communicate with the PCMCIA card to display a node map indicating communication links between the portable devices carried by the emergency services personnel. |
| US08013735B2 |
Asset recovery system
An asset location, tracking, and recovery system and method includes a network of VHF towers and a control center receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the VHF towers. Primary locating units each include a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder activated when a signal is transmitted by the control center via the VHF towers to the receiver. Auxiliary locating units include at least a transmitter emitting a signal received by at least one primary locating unit receiver which relays that signal to the control center via the VHF towers from the primary locating unit transmitter. |
| US08013732B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling remote devices
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. Such a system may be configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described. |
| US08013726B2 |
Adaptive switching receiver slice level
A disclosed example receiver for receiving transmissions and data for both a remote keyless entry (RKE) system and a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system tailors the data slice level to the characteristics unique to each of the RKE transmissions and the TPM transmissions. |
| US08013725B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring device
Pneumatic pressure monitoring units that measure pneumatic pressures of respective tires and that transmit results of the measurements of the pneumatic pressures from respective antennas by the use of radio signals are provided at the tires, respectively. A communication unit including a beam controller arranged to selectively direct reception beams towards the respective tires is provided at substantially the center near the bottom surface of a vehicle. The antennas of the respective pneumatic pressure monitoring units are constructed so that directivity patterns of transmission beams are directed towards the inside in axle directions of the tires. |
| US08013722B2 |
Vehicle obstruction warning system and method
A system and method for warning vehicle operators of obstructions are provided. First clearance data of the vehicle, including vehicle height and width, are obtained and stored in memory. An obstruction in the vehicle's path and the travel surface between the vehicle and the obstruction are scanned by a sensor device. Second clearance data of the obstruction, including the height and width of the vehicle passage defined by the obstruction, are determined and are stored in memory. Utilizing a comparison/warning signal generating device, the first and second clearance data are compared, and a warning signal is generated when values of the first clearance data are equal to or greater than corresponding values of the second clearance data. A monitoring device monitors the time period between generation of the warning signal and responsive action by the vehicle operator to avoid a collision. The vehicle is automatically brought to a stop if, upon expiration of a preselected time limit, the vehicle operator has not taken appropriate action. |
| US08013721B2 |
Display apparatus displaying image of surroundings of vehicle
A display apparatus displaying an image of surroundings of a vehicle includes a camera capturing an image of the surroundings of the vehicle, and a display monitor provided inside the vehicle for superimposingly displaying the image of the surroundings of the vehicle captured by the camera, and a first distance indicator line and a second distance indicator line, wherein the first distance indicator line indicates a first predetermined distance from the vehicle and the second distance indicator line indicates a second predetermined distance from the vehicle, the second distance indicator line is positioned farther away from the vehicle than the first distance indicator line, and the first distance indicator line is wider than the second distance indicator line. |
| US08013719B2 |
Combination low voltage speaker / light fixture
A combination low voltage light and sound producing fixture is disclosed for installation in a yard wall or ceiling or on a wall or ceiling. Outdoor lighting and sound is produced with low voltage lighting that is wired or solar powered for operation. The fixture may further include digital signal processing to modify the sound to account for obstructions in near or around the fixture. The fixture may include a feedback system that allow the fixture to self modify its frequency response. The signal to the fixture is provided by wired or wireless interface. The surface of the sound transducer can be reflective in nature to provide focusing or diffusion of the light from the lighting elements. The lighting elements are incandescent, fluorescent or low voltage LED type that may include adjustment for lighting intensity or color. |
| US08013717B2 |
Near-field communication device with environmental sensor
A wireless communication device includes a near-field activated circuit that transmits an output signal upon exposure to an energizing electromagnetic field, and a sensor having an output coupled to the near-field activated circuit, wherein the sensor produces an output signal in response to sensing an environmental condition other than the energizing electromagnetic field, and wherein the output signal of the near-field activated circuit changes when the sensor changes states. |
| US08013716B2 |
Method for wireless data transmission
A method and apparatus for wireless data transmission is provided between a base station and a backscatter-based transponder, in which the transponder generates a presence signal after initialization or at predetermined time intervals, independent of data transmitted by the base station. The presence signal is generated by phase modulation and backscattering of a carrier signal transmitted by the base station. |
| US08013715B2 |
Canceling self-jammer signals in an RFID system
A device and method for canceling one or more self-jammer signals in a radio-frequency identification system. |
| US08013713B2 |
Resistor, particularly SMD resistor, and associated production method
The invention relates to a resistor (18), particularly an SMD resistor, including a planar, metallic support element (19) that has a top surface and a bottom surface, a planar resistor element (21) which is made of a resistive material and is disposed on the bottom surface of the support element (19), and at least two separate metallic connecting parts (23, 23) which electrically contact the resistor element (21) and are arranged in part on the bottom surface of the support element (19). The connecting parts (22, 23) are laterally exposed on the resistor (18) and can be laterally wetted in a visible manner by a solder. The invention further relates to a corresponding production method. |
| US08013711B2 |
Variable resistance element, semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing variable resistance element
A method for manufacturing a variable resistance element includes the steps of: depositing a variable resistance material (106) in a contact hole (105), which is formed on an interlayer insulating layer (104) on a substrate and has a lower electrode (103) at a bottom portion thereof, such that an upper surface of the variable resistance material (106) in the contact hole (105) is located lower than an upper surface of the interlayer insulating layer (104); depositing an upper electrode material on the deposited variable resistance material (106) such that an upper surface of the upper electrode material in the contact hole (105) is located higher than the upper surface of the interlayer insulating layer (104); and element-isolating by a CMP the variable resistance element including the variable resistance material (106) and the upper electrode material. |
| US08013700B2 |
Field element
The present invention relates to a field element which reduces a harmonic component of a magnetic flux density. Permanent magnets (20) are in contact with first magnetic plates (1, 3) in a direction parallel to a rotation axis (P). The first magnetic plate (1) includes first and second magnetic members (10, 12) and first and second non-magnetic members (11, 13). The first magnetic member (10) includes a pole center and is in contact with one of the permanent magnets. The first magnetic member (10), the first non-magnetic member (11), the second magnetic member (12) and the second non-magnetic member (13) are disposed in the stated order in a circumferential direction with the pole center and the rotation axis being as a starting point and a center, respectively. When Pn represents the number of pole pairs and i represents an odd number equal to or more than three, an angle θ1 defined by an end portion (131) of the second non-magnetic member (13) on the pole center side with respect to a pole gap is 0<θ1<180/(i·Pn). An angle θ2 defined by an end portion (111) of the first non-magnetic member (11) on the pole center side with respect to the pole gap is 180/(i·Pn)≦θ2≦180·2/(i·Pn). |
| US08013698B2 |
Permanent-magnet magnetic actuator of reduced volume
A magnetic actuator comprises at least one coil surrounded by a magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit possesses three legs and two facing end plates. The three legs comprise two outer legs on either side of the coil and an intermediate leg passing through the coil. The legs have no direct mechanical contact with one another. The two facing end plates magnetically interconnect the three legs. The magnetic circuit comprises a moving armature comprising at least one of the end plates, and a stationary portion including a yoke having at least the other one of the end plates and at least one permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is placed at one end of the intermediate leg beside the end plate of the yoke. The magnetic actuator can control medium-voltage and high-voltage circuit breaker vacuum chambers. |
| US08013696B2 |
Magnetic apparatus and method of manufacturing the magnetic apparatus
The present invention provides for a magnetic apparatus and a method of manufacturing the magnetic apparatus including a magnet having an outer surface and an inner surface opposing each other with the inner surface having a first portion and a second portion integrally connected to and facing each other and utilizing a fluid and a fixture body defining a hole along a fixture axis and a deflector disposed within the hole. The method includes the steps of installing the magnet on the fixture body and securing the magnet to the fixture body. The method further includes the steps of flowing the fluid through the magnet transverse to the fixture axis to form at least one aperture and intersecting the fluid with the deflector to redirect the fluid generally along the fixture axis. |
| US08013695B2 |
Electronic overload relay
A magnetic circuit includes a stationary iron core, a permanent magnet, and an armature, in a circular pattern. A contact mechanism spring separates the armature from the stationary iron core to open the magnetic circuit to switch a contact mechanism to a reset position. A coil on the magnetic circuit generates a magnetic flux in a direction same as that of the permanent magnet when an overload is detected and in an opposite direction when a predetermined time is elapsed after detecting the overload. A reset bar switches a movable stopper between an engaging position and a non-engaging position with the contact mechanism against a biasing force of the contact mechanism spring. |
| US08013694B2 |
Dielectric waveguide device, phase shifter, high frequency switch, and attenuator provided with dielectric waveguide device, high frequency transmitter, high frequency receiver, high frequency transceiver, radar device, array antenna, and method of manufacturing dielectric waveguide device
The invention relates to a small and low-voltage operable dielectric waveguide device. First and second electrode are embedded in a dielectric part and are formed to be thinner than a skin depth for a frequency of electromagnetic wave propagating along a first dielectric part included in the dielectric part. Thereby, even if the first and second electrodes are arranged to be in contact with the first dielectric part, the propagating electromagnetic wave can transmit the first and second electrodes, and therefore the electromagnetic wave can propagate without being cut off and there is no influence on waveguide modes of the electromagnetic wave. Further, in a state where a transmission loss due to the embedded of the electrode is suppressed, an electric field with large electric field strength can be applied to the first dielectric part by the first and second electrodes, and a small and low-voltage operable dielectric waveguide device can be achieved. |
| US08013689B2 |
Integrated circuit inductor with transverse interfaces
An integrated circuit (IC) inductor structure is provided with transverse electrical interfaces. The inductor structure is formed on at least one IC circuit layer and has a first axis planar to a circuit layer surface, bisecting the inductor into opposite first and second sides. An input interface is formed on the circuit layer and connected to the inductor first side, parallel to a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis. An output interface is formed on the circuit layer and connected to the inductor second side, parallel to the second axis. In one aspect, the inductor has a center tap electrical interface parallel to the axis. In another aspect, the inductor includes a three-dimensional (3D) loop formed over a plurality of the circuit layers. |
| US08013680B2 |
Distributed Doherty amplifiers
Doherty and distributed amplifier (DA) designs are combined to achieve, wideband amplifiers with high efficiency dynamic range. A modified Doherty amplifier includes a wideband phase shifter providing first and second outputs, a main amplifier coupled to the first output, an auxiliary amplifier coupled to the second output, and a wideband combining network combining the outputs in phase. A multi-stage DA has a main output and a termination port, and a phase delay module and transforming network allowing power at the termination port to be combined in phase with power at the main output. In one combination, one or more stages of the DA may comprise a Doherty amplifier. In another combination, a modified series-type Doherty amplifying system is achieved by cascading main and auxiliary DAs. In any combination, Doherty topology may include a bias control module. |
| US08013677B2 |
One-sided switching pulse width modulation amplifiers
One-sided pulse width modulated (PWM) amplifiers are disclosed. An example amplifier includes an integrator to receive first and second analog signals, and to output a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal based on the first and second analog signals, a reference changer coupled to the integrator to determine whether a first amplitude is higher than a second amplitude based on the first and second analog signals, to selectively cause the integrator to apply a first resistance between a reference node and the first amplified signal and apply a second resistance between the reference node and the second amplified signal when the first amplitude is higher than the second amplitude, and to selectively cause the integrator to apply the second resistance between the reference node and the first amplified signal and apply the first resistance between the reference node and the second amplified signal when the second amplitude is higher than the first amplitude, and first and second comparators coupled to the integrator to receive the first and second amplified signals, to compare the first and second amplified signals to a reference signal, and to output first and second pulse width modulated signals having respective first and second pulse widths based on the comparisons between the first and second amplified signals and the reference signal. |
| US08013676B2 |
High-efficiency power amplifier
A high-efficiency power amplifier is provided, including a drive amplifier and a final power amplifier, and further including a first digital pre-distortion (DPD) correction module and a second DPD correction module. The first DPD correction module is configured to pre-distort nonlinear characteristics of drive signals output by the drive amplifier, and the second DPD correction module is connected to the first DPD correction module in series, and is configured to pre-distort nonlinear characteristics of amplified signals output by the final power amplifier. Another high-efficiency power amplifier is also provided, including a drive amplifier and a final power amplifier, and further including a second multi-path control module, a fourth DPD correction module, and a second gating module. The overall efficiency of the high-efficiency power amplifier is increased by improving the working efficiency of the drive amplifier. Further, higher overall efficiency is also achieved for a power amplifier with a higher gain. |
| US08013671B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first input terminal configured to input a first input voltage, a second input terminal configured to input a second input voltage, a differential amplifier configured to generate a differential output voltage by amplifying a differential input voltage obtained from a difference between the first input voltage input by the first input terminal and the second input voltage input by the second input terminal, a switch configured to electrically connect or cut off the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and a sample hold unit connected to a power supply which generates a reference voltage and configured to generate an offset correction voltage of the differential amplifier based on the differential output voltage and the reference voltage when the first input terminal and the second input terminal are electrically connected by the switch. |
| US08013670B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for obtaining tuning capacitance for Gm-C filter
The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and system for obtaining the tuning capacitance of a Gm-C filter. The method includes: integrating a simulated capacitor within a given time via a current, where the simulated capacitor simulates the capacitor of the Gm-C filter which is set to an even capacitor array; and comparing the integral voltage obtained by the integration with the reference voltage, finding a simulated capacitance that makes the integral voltage equal to the reference voltage via gradual approaching by adjusting a control code, and determining the simulated capacitance as the tuning capacitance. The present invention improves the performance of a Gm-C filter without affecting the performance of the Gm-C filter. |
| US08013664B2 |
Charge pump controller and method therefor
A charge pump controller (20) comprises a configurable pump capacitor (15, 16). A charge pump controller (20) controls the charge supplied to a load (12) to be less than the charge stored on the pump capacitor (15, 16). |
| US08013661B2 |
Negative voltage generating circuit
A negative voltage generating circuit includes a pulse generator U1, a switch, a resistor, a first capacitor, a first diode, a second diode, and a second capacitor. The pulse generator includes a positive voltage input pin coupled to a power supply, an oscillating output pin, and a negative voltage input pin. The switch includes a first terminal coupled to the oscillating output pin, a second terminal coupled to one terminal of the first capacitor, and coupled to the power supply via the resistor, and a third terminal being grounded. Another terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the anode of the fist diode and the cathode of the second diode. The cathode of the first diode is grounded. The anode of the second diode is coupled to the positive voltage input pin of the pulse generator, and is coupled to ground via the second capacitor. |
| US08013660B2 |
System and method for charge integration
An arrangement for charge integration comprises a charge-generating circuit (2) that provides a charge-dependent signal, and a coupling circuit (20) comprising a first and a second transistor (T1, T2). The first transistor (T1) can be controlled in dependence on the charge-dependent signal. The second transistor (T2) is configured to forward the charge-dependent signal in dependence on a control signal provided by the first transistor (T1). The forwarded charge-dependent signal is integrated by an integrator (30). |
| US08013658B2 |
Circuit for controlling time sequence
A circuit for controlling time sequence of an electronic device, the circuit comprises a delay unit to receive a first control signal, a first switch unit connected to the delay unit to receive the first control signal after a rising edge of the first control signal, a second switch unit to promptly receive the first control signal in response to a falling edge of the first control signal, and a voltage output unit connected to the first and second switch units. The voltage output unit is selectively controlled by the first or the second switch unit to output a second or a third control signal to turn on or off the electronic device. |
| US08013656B2 |
Semicondutor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device including an I/O circuitry capable of low-voltage high-speed operation at low cost is provided. In the I/O circuitry, when an I/O voltage (for example, 3.3 V) is lowered to a predetermined voltage (for example, 1.8 V), portions causing a speed deterioration are a level conversion unit and a pre-buffer unit for driving a main large-sized buffer. In view of this, a high voltage is applied to a level up converter and a pre-buffer circuit. By doing so, it is possible to achieve an I/O circuitry capable of low-voltage high-speed operation at low cost. |
| US08013652B2 |
Power amplification device and communication device
In a case where two constant envelope signals corresponding to an input signal are generated through analog signal processing, variation in detection sensitivities of amplitudes of those signals is suppressed. At least one of a mixer (24) for detecting an amplitude of a first intermediate signal S1 and a mixer (26) for detecting an amplitude of a second intermediate signal S2 detects an amplitude of a given reference signal, and sampling hold circuits (36, 38) hold a voltage related to those amplitudes. Then, detection sensitivities of the mixer (24, 26) are corrected based on the held voltage. |
| US08013650B2 |
Phase adjustment circuit
A phase adjustment circuit includes first to nth two-phase adjustment circuits. Each two-phase adjustment circuit includes a first logic circuit for performing logical sum of two input signals, a second logic circuit for performing logical product of the two input signals, a first delay circuit having a signal delay equal to that of the second logic circuit and configured to delay a signal output from the first logic circuit, and a second delay circuit having a signal delay equal to that of the first logic circuit and configured to delay a signal output from the second logic circuit. Two signals output from two of the two-phase adjustment circuits in a certain stage are input into one of the two-phase adjustment circuits in the next stage. |
| US08013648B1 |
Output slew-rate controlled interface and method for controlling the output slew-rate of an interface
An output slew-rate controlled interface is provided. The output slew-rate controlled interface includes: a standard slew-rate range generating circuit, for generating at least one standard signal defining a standard slew-rate range; a slew-rate comparing circuit, coupled to the standard slew-rate range generating circuit and a load circuit coupled to the interface, for comparing a response slew-rate of a response signal from the load circuit with the standard slew-rate range and producing a comparison result; and an outputting circuit, coupled to the slew-rate comparing circuit, for adjusting an output slew-rate of an output signal according to the comparison result and outputting the output signal to the load circuit. |
| US08013647B2 |
Physical quantity detection circuit and physical quantity sensor device
A physical quantity detection circuit (12) is used for a physical quantity sensor (10) that outputs a sensor signal according to a physical quantity given externally. A phase adjustment circuit (100) receives a reference clock (CKref) and operates in synchronization with an operation clock (CKa), to delay a transition edge of the reference clock by a predetermined number of pulses of the operation clock. A detection circuit (104) detects a physical quantity signal from the sensor signal (Ssnc) using a transition edge of a clock (SSS) from the phase adjustment circuit (100) as the reference. |
| US08013641B1 |
Frequency synthesizer including a digital lock detector
There is provided a digital lock detector and a frequency synthesizer using the same. The digital lock detector includes a comparator unit receiving a plurality of control bits, and generating a bit signal to notice a lock condition of the plurality of control bits; a delay cell block generating a plurality of delay signals based on the bit signal, and outputting a clock signal by combining the bit signal and the plurality of delay signals; and a detection unit detecting a shift time of the clock signal, and generating a lock indication signal according to the detection result. |
| US08013640B1 |
Programmable ultrasound transmit beamformer integrated circuit and method
An electrical waveform generating circuit has a programmable current source-driver. A digital switched current source is coupled to the programmable current source-driver and controlled by waveforms stored in the programmable current source-driver. A plurality of MOSFETs is coupled to the programmable current source driver. A center-tapped RF transformer is provided and has a primary coupled to the plurality of high voltage MOSFETs. A transducer is coupled to a secondary of the RF transformer. |
| US08013637B2 |
Clock signal selection circuit
There is provided a clock signal selection circuit including: a first AND circuit (AND_A1) outputting a logical product signal of a clock selection signal and a first control signal; a second AND circuit (AND_A2) outputting a logical product signal of a logical inversion signal of the clock selection signal and a second control signal; a first flip-flop (FF_A2) inputting either the logical product signal that the first AND circuit outputs or a signal in accordance with the logical product signal, and outputting a logical inversion signal of a first output signal in synchronization with a first clock signal to the second AND circuit as the second control signal; and a second flip-flop (FF_B2) inputting either the logical product signal that the second AND circuit outputs or a signal in accordance with the logical product signal, and outputting a logical inversion signal of a second output signal in synchronization with a second clock signal to the first AND circuit as the first control signal. |
| US08013630B2 |
Ternary valve input circuit
A pull-up switching device for controlling connection and non-connection of an input terminal IN and a first supply VDD and a pull-down switching device for controlling connection and non-connection of the input terminal IN and a second supply VSS are provided. The pull-up switching device and the pull-down switching device are operated exclusively on and off in time division to hold and output the state of the input terminal during each operating state from the two output terminals. |
| US08013621B2 |
Inspection method and program for inspecting electrical characteristics of a semiconductor wafer
Disclosed is an inspection method capable of performing an inspection of high reliability even for very fine and thin-film electrode pads of a target object, by using needle traces formed on the electrode pads and making the electrode pads repeatedly contact the probes at high accuracy. In the inspection method, under the control of a control unit 15 of an inspection apparatus 10, by using old needle traces formed on the respective pads P of the target object such as a semiconductor wafer W, contactable regions S for the probes 12A in preparation for a present inspection, so that each of the probes 12A contact each of the electrode pad P in the contactable region S and within an empty area with no needle trace. |
| US08013612B2 |
Ground fault detection circuit for use in high voltage motor drive applications
An integrated ground fault detection circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a shunt resistor provided on a positive rail of a DC bus, a high voltage pocket including a sensory circuit connected to the shunt resistor and operable to detect a fault condition indicating a short circuit and a transmitter section operable to continuously transmit a fault condition signal indicating the fault condition and a low voltage pocket including a receiver operable to receive the fault condition signal from the sensory circuit and a logic unit, connected to the receiver, and operable to provide a fault output signal indicating the presence of a fault condition based on the fault condition signal. |
| US08013611B2 |
Vehicle battery product and battery monitoring system
A vehicle battery product and a battery monitoring system communicating with a battery product having an at least one electronics module, the module having a controller, the controller having software and a computer readable storage media. An at least one sensor circuit senses the status of the battery product including a battery product voltage and a battery product temperature. Software modules in the battery monitoring system acquire battery product data such as the battery product voltage and the battery product temperature, filter the acquired battery product data into modified battery product data and process the modified battery product data against stored parameters through a lookup function on a variable event filter table resulting in an output that represents the state of charge or state of health of the battery. The acquired, filtered, modified and compared battery product data is stored to provide historical battery product data over the course of the life of the battery product. This stored battery product data is compared against threshold levels. An at least one communication device communicates the data from the battery product and to the battery product and from and to the battery monitoring system to communicate the condition of the battery to a user. |
| US08013604B2 |
Temperature-controlled magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus
A method for improving the imaging quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment and MRI equipment, include obtaining a corresponding relationship between a deterioration factor of imaging quality and the cumulative energy of gradient pulses applied by successive scanning MRI sequences, then determining a predicted value of a current deterioration factor of imaging quality according to the currently applied cumulative energy of the gradient pulses and said corresponding relationship, adopting a corresponding method to carry out dynamic regulation or compensation using the predicted value of said deterioration factor of imaging quality as a reference, so as to cancel the influence produced by the heating effect of the gradient system to the imaging quality, thereby effectively improving the imaging quality of the MRI equipment. |
| US08013603B2 |
NMR-detecting cell, NMR-measuring method, and NMR-measuring apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide an effective method for measuring by NMR in real time, an NMR-detecting cell for measurement of NMR, and an NMR-measuring apparatus, andspecifically, there has been found out a method for measuring NMR wherein a measurement sample is immobilized in a medium in an NMR-detecting cell that is an NMR detection part within an NMR-measuring magnet, and then measured by solution NMR in real time under the condition that the external environment around the immobilized measurement sample is consecutively changing. |
| US08013600B1 |
Mountable eddy current sensor for in-situ remote detection of surface and sub-surface fatigue cracks
A wireless, integrated, mountable, portable, battery-operated, non-contact eddy current sensor that provides similar accuracy to 1970's laboratory scale equipment (e.g., a Hewlett-Packard GP4194A Impedance Analyzer) at a fraction of the size and cost. |
| US08013599B2 |
Methods and apparatus for testing a component
A method for inspecting a component having a surface profile that includes a local minima and a local maxima. The method includes positioning an eddy current probe proximate to a surface of the component to generate a first position indication, positioning the eddy current probe proximate to the surface of the component to generate a second position indication that is different than the first position indication, and interpolating between the first and second position indications to determine a profile of a portion of the surface of the component. |
| US08013595B2 |
AC magnetic tracking system with phase locking
Plural transmitter coils of a magnetic locating system are driven with widely-separated main frequencies. One of the transmitter coils is also driven with a marker frequency close to the main frequency applied to that coil. The receiver determines a phase relationship with the transmitter based on the main and marker frequencies, so that the receiver does not suffer from phase ambiguity. The main and marker frequencies may interfere with one another, and the receiver may correct for such interference based on known characteristics of the signals at the main and marker frequencies. |
| US08013594B2 |
Digital multimeter having hinged shield arrangement
A multimeter comprises a case having a circuit board located therein. The circuit board has a top side and a bottom side. A shield arrangement is configured to cover at least a portion of the top side and the bottom side of the circuit board. The shield arrangement includes a top shield part adjacent to the top side of the circuit board and a bottom shield part adjacent to the bottom side of the circuit board. The shield arrangement also includes a connecting structure by which the top shield part is interconnected with the bottom shield part. The connecting structure preferably forms at least one hinge configured such that the top shield part and the bottom shield part can be moved between open and closed configurations. Often, a plurality of hinges will be provided. |
| US08013590B1 |
Sensor circuit
A method of measuring signals related to a photodiode based sensor and calculating a corrected data value thereof is disclosed. A nominal reset voltage value of the photodiode may be measured. A knee point voltage may be applied to the photodiode and resets a voltage on the photodiode to the knee point voltage when the voltage on the photodiode falls below the knee point voltage. Applying the knee point voltage may extend the dynamic range of the sensor. An output voltage of the photodiode at end of an integration time of the photodiode may be measured. The knee point voltage may be applied again after the end of the integration time. A voltage value of the photodiode of the knee point voltage may be measured. The nominal reset voltage value, the output voltage of a sensor and the knee point voltage may be reported to calculate the corrected data value. |
| US08013587B2 |
DC/DC power supply circuit with a bypass circuit
A power supply circuit includes: an input terminal; a DC voltage converter that converts a DC input voltage supplied to the input terminal into a DC output voltage; an output terminal that outputs the DC output voltage; a bypass circuit provided to the DC voltage converter between the input terminal and the output terminal; and a monitor control unit that monitors whether or not the DC input voltage satisfies a predetermined condition to be processed in the DC voltage converter, so as to connect the input terminal to the output terminal via the bypass circuit if the DC input voltage does not satisfy the predetermined condition. |
| US08013584B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining a constant load current with line voltage in a switch mode power supply
A power supply regulator including a variable current limit threshold that increases during an on time of a switch. In one aspect, a power supply regulator includes a comparator coupled to receive a signal representative of a current through a switch during an on time of the switch. The comparator is further coupled to receive a variable current limit threshold that increases during the on time of the switch. The power supply regulator also includes a feedback circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of a power supply. A control circuit is also included and is coupled to the switch, to an output of the comparator, and to an output of the feedback circuit. The control circuit is coupled to control a switching of the switch in response the output of the comparator and the output of the feedback circuit to regulate the output of the power supply. |
| US08013582B2 |
Voltage control circuit
A voltage control circuit accepts an input voltage and produces a regulated output voltage. Embodiments provide improved responsiveness to variations in input voltage, load current, and ambient temperature. Exemplary embodiments include an NPN transistor connected between the input and output terminals, which is controlled by a feedback circuit. In an embodiment, the feedback circuit includes a PMOS transistor and in another embodiment the feedback circuit includes a PNP transistor. |
| US08013581B2 |
Power supply circuit with stand-by control circuit and energy storage circuit
An exemplary power supply circuit configured for supply power for a load includes: a main power supply configured for converting received voltages into required direct current voltages; a microprocessor configured for providing control signals; a stand-by control circuit configured for controlling the main power supply; an energy storage circuit configured for supplying the stand-by control circuit. When the load stops operating, the microprocessor outputs a control signal to the stand-by control circuit, the stand-by control circuit outputs a corresponding control signal to turn off the main power supply. In response to when the load starts operating, the stand-by control circuit outputs a corresponding control signal to turn on the main power supply, and the main power supply charges the energy storage circuit. |
| US08013579B2 |
Voltage trimming
Embodiments are provided that include a memory die, memory devices, and methods, such as those comprising a voltage generator, including an output voltage and an adjustment circuit configured to cause adjustment of the output voltage based on a latch signal. Further one such method includes applying an input voltage to an input of a voltage generator, adjusting the input voltage to an adjusted voltage, comparing the adjusted voltage to a reference voltage, generating trim data based on the comparison and storing the trim data. |
| US08013576B2 |
Systems and methods for supplying power to an electronic device
A method which supplies power to an electronic device from a power supply device. The method includes setting a minimum power level of a power supply battery of a power supply device, detecting a current power level of the power supply battery and determining a current supply of the power supply battery, determining if the current supply exceeds a preset minimum power level, setting a required power level for extracting power from the power supply battery, extracting the power from the power supply battery according to a preset required power level, and transferring the power to a power charging battery of the electronic device. A related system is also provided. |
| US08013573B2 |
Battery pack that provides precise voltage measurements of batteries when safety switch is present
A battery pack is constructed with a plurality of secondary batteries or a plurality of battery assemblies, each having a plurality of unit batteries, and at least one safety switch, which can facilitate precise measurement of the voltages of the plurality of secondary batteries or battery assemblies. The battery pack is constructed with a plurality of secondary batteries, at least one safety switch electrically connected between two adjacent batteries among the plurality of secondary batteries, and a plurality of sensing lines for measuring voltages of the plurality of secondary batteries. The quantity of the sensing lines is equals to a sum of the number of the secondary batteries, and the number of the safety switches, and plus one. |
| US08013572B2 |
Recharging device for use with portable electronic devices
The present invention provides a recharging apparatus for use with portable electronic user devices such as cell phones, pagers, PDAs, as well as with portable battery powered devices such as flashlights. Charging circuitry is used to charge the user device battery from a battery of the recharging apparatus. The user is able to control the recharging process with a manual on/off switch that is part of the recharging apparatus. Optionally, a manual/automatic mode is provided that allows the user even greater flexibility over charging. Here, the user may select various conditions and options when recharging is permitted. |
| US08013570B2 |
Electrical circuit sharing for electric vehicle charging stations
Electric vehicle charging stations are coupled with a circuit sharing controller. Multiple electric vehicle charging stations are wired on the same electrical circuit. The circuit sharing controller implements a circuit sharing process that dynamically allocates electric current to charging stations on the same electrical circuit such that the capacity of the electrical circuit is not exceeded while permitting each of those charging stations to draw electric current through that electrical circuit for at least some amount of time. |
| US08013568B2 |
Contact-less chargeable battery and charging device, battery charging set, and charging control method thereof
The present invention relates to a wireless charger for a mobile communication terminal, which allows charging a plurality of batteries in a conveniently way without any terminal connection of the batteries to chargers for various mobile communication terminals such as a cellular phone and PDA and also allows intercepting electromagnetic waves while the charger is used, by means of Faraday's law.The wireless charger of the present invention includes a charger body having an electromagnetic wave intercepting means; a charging pad received in the charger body; and at least one battery that is to be charged by means of induced electromotive force generated by the charging pad, wherein the charger body includes a power supply means, a housing having a receiver for receiving the charging pad and connected to the power supply means, and a cover hinged to the housing. |
| US08013566B2 |
Solar powered apparatus
A solar powered apparatus that includes a battery, at least one photovoltaic cell (which may be part of a solar module comprising multiple photovoltaic cells), and a DC-capable AC appliance, such as a compact fluorescent light. The solar powered apparatus may also include a first DC to DC converter that receives a first electrical signal from the at least one photovoltaic cell and provides a charging signal to the battery, and a second DC to DC converter that receives a second electrical signal from the battery and provides a DC power signal to the DC-capable AC appliance. |
| US08013561B2 |
Driving mechanism having position encoder for two-dimensional positioning
A driving mechanism comprises a fixed housing, a movable housing on which an object to be driven is mounted and a driving motor which is operative to drive the movable housing to move linearly as well as to rotate relative to the fixed housing. An inductance-type encoder determines both linear and rotary displacement of the movable housing relative to the fixed housing, whereby to provide closed-loop control of the position of the object in both linear and rotary directions. |
| US08013560B2 |
Method for compensating for angular transmission error of an actuator
The non-linear elastic deformation component included in the angular transmission error of an actuator provided with a wave gear drive is a component of the angular transmission error occurring due to elastic deformation of a flexible externally-toothed gear when the direction of rotation of the motor shaft changes. This component can be analyzed by driving the motor in a sine-wave shape. A model of the non-linear elastic deformation component (non-linear model) obtained from the analysis results is used to store data or a function for compensating for this component in a motor-control device. Compensation for the non-linear elastic deformation component (θHys) is added to a motor-shaft angle command (θ*M) as a compensation input (Nθ*TE) for feed-forward compensation. As a result, the non-linear elastic deformation component (θHys) can be effectively reduced, and the positioning precision of the actuator can be improved. |
| US08013558B2 |
Method for adjusting a closing gap in a piece of furniture, device for moving a movable furniture part relative to a stationary furniture part, and piece of furniture
A method for adjusting a closing gap in a piece of furniture, which comprises a device for moving a movable furniture part relative to a stationary furniture part by means of a drive unit, by means of which the furniture part can be driven to move relative to the stationary furniture part via a monitoring unit for monitoring the movement of the movable furniture part, with the closing gap being formed between a front part of the movable furniture part and the stationary furniture part when the movable furniture part is in a closed position with respect to the stationary furniture part. According to the invention, the closing gap is adjusted in an activated, electronically assisted, adjusting mode. |
| US08013552B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling a DC motor
Various systems and methods for controlling DC motors are disclosed herein. For example, one method provides for controlling a polyphase, brushless DC motor. The method includes providing a DC motor that has a plurality of phases. Such a DC motor operates by inducing a current in the plurality of phases in accordance with a plurality of commutation states. In the example, six commutation states are discussed, but fewer than or more than six commutation states may exist. The method further includes initializing a count, inducing a current in the plurality of phases in accordance with a first commutation state, and incrementing the count until the current achieves a threshold in the first commutation state. Then, a current is induced in the plurality of phases in accordance with a second commutation state, and the count is decremented until the current achieves the threshold in the second commutation state. The sign bit of the count is stored, and a desired initial commutation state is determined based at least in part on the sign bit of the count. |
| US08013551B2 |
Blower motor for HVAC systems
A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor. |
| US08013549B2 |
Counter electro-motoric force based functional status detection of an electro-motor
The present invention relates to a circuit for detecting a functional status of an electro-motor. Typical electro-motors need additional components to identify the functional status of the motor. This means additional weight for such motors determining the functional status. According to the present invention a circuit is provided using a part of a motor as a sensor for detecting the functional status of the electro-motor. |
| US08013543B2 |
Backlight control circuit
An exemplary backlight control circuit includes a transformer, a control circuit, a lamp. The control circuit and the transformer form an inverter circuit to providing an alternating current (AC) voltage for driving the lamp. When the backlight control circuit works in a startup mode, the backlight control circuit defines a first current path including the lamp and the first current path forms a first resonant circuit. When the backlight control circuit works in an operation mode, the backlight control circuit defines a second current path including the lamp and the second current path forms a second resonant circuit. The first and second resonant circuits have different resonant frequencies from each other. |
| US08013540B2 |
Light adjusting device for a light emitting diode and related light adjusting method and light emitting device
A light adjusting device for a light emitting diode includes a switch, a detecting unit and an illumination adjusting unit. The switch is coupled to a power terminal, which is utilized for providing power for the light emitting diode. The detecting unit is coupled to the switch, and is utilized for determining a status of the switch, so as to generate a detecting result. The illumination adjusting unit is coupled to the detecting unit, and is utilized for adjusting illumination of the light emitting diode according to the detecting result. |
| US08013539B2 |
Low-cost drive system for an LED triad
A drive system for powering LED triads includes a controller for supplying power to one or more LED triad modules with integral encoding of the desired hue and intensity information. The LED triad modules each include an LED triad and decoding circuitry for activating the individual LED elements of the triad according to the encoded hue and intensity information. In the illustrated configuration, the controller supplies power to the LED triad modules over a pair of conductors, and the supplied power is modulated using a four-phase encoding sequence that is decoded by the decoding circuitry of each LED triad module so that each LED triad module produces light of the desired hue and intensity. |
| US08013538B2 |
TRI-light
A lighting arrangement includes a light fixture including a plurality of light sources wherein each light source is configured to generate a different color light when energized; and a circuit arrangement included in the light fixture and operatively interposed between the plurality of light sources and a source of electrical power. This circuit arrangement is responsive to brief interruptions in the supply of electrical power of less than a predetermined period to simultaneously de-energize all of the light sources for a full duration of the interruption and to subsequently toggle energization from one light source to the next and thereby produce different color light in response to the cessation of the brief interruption. |
| US08013536B2 |
Inverter circuit
From the individual small areas of a conductor pattern arranged on the back side of a circuit board, there are individually extended leader patterns, which are midway led by through holes to the surface side of the circuit board. The individual leader patterns led to the surface side are connected with a terminal portion on the low-voltage side through jumper pads. The desired small areas are enabled to function by shorting the jumper pads with solder. The individual small areas are constituted to have a capacity of 1 pF, when caused to function, and they have such a capacity as a pattern capacitor as is proportional to the number of the shorted jumper pads. |
| US08013531B2 |
Plasma display panel having a plurality of layers containing calcium oxide and barium oxide
A plasma display panel is formed of front panel including at least display electrodes, dielectric layer that are formed on glass substrate, and a rear panel including electrodes, barrier ribs, and phosphor layers that are formed on a substrate. Dielectric layer is formed of multiple layers, i.e. lower dielectric layer and upper dielectric layer, and these layers are made of identical material to each other, and the material contains CaO and BaO, and the content of CaO is greater than that of BaO. |
| US08013522B2 |
Organic light emitting device with transflective members
An organic light emitting device includes a substrate including a first region, a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, a thin film structure formed on the substrate, first, second, and third color filters formed on the thin film structure, and respectively disposed in the first, second, and third regions, an insulating layer formed on the first to third color filters and the thin film structure, first, second, third, and fourth translucent members formed on the insulating layer, and respectively disposed in the first, second, third, and fourth regions, first, second, third, and fourth pixel electrodes respectively formed on the first, second, third, and fourth translucent members, an organic light emitting member for emitting white light formed on the first to fourth pixel electrodes; and a common electrode formed on the organic light emitting member. |
| US08013521B2 |
Organic el device and electronic apparatus
An organic EL device includes: a first electrode which have a light-transmitting property; a transflective film; an organic light emission layer which is disposed between the first electrodes and the transflective film; a reflective film which is disposed on opposite side of the first electrode than the transflective film; and a first light emission pixel which includes a connective conduction portion formed to cover a stepped portion of the end of the reflective film. The connective conduction portion includes conductive films having a light-transmitting property and is electrically connected to a switching element of the first light emission pixel. In addition, the first electrode is formed by selecting and patterning at least one layer of the conductive films included in the connective conduction portion. |
| US08013520B2 |
Organic light emitting display device with a bezel and rib and a secure interconnection there between
An organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting display panel; a bezel including a lower surface and a plurality of side walls extending from edges of the lower surface, and receiving the display panel therein; and a protective window provided on the top of the bezel, wherein the bezel is provided with a first rib, and the protective window is provided with a groove coupled to the first rib. |
| US08013516B2 |
LED device having improved power distribution
An LED device that includes electrodes patterned over a substrate; the pattern forming several first electrodes separated by inter-electrode spacers. One or more light-emitting layers are formed over the first electrodes. A patterned conductive layer is formed over the one or more light-emitting layers and over the first electrodes in regions external to the inter-electrode spacers. A continuous unpatterned conductive layer is formed over both the patterned conductive layer and the inter-electrode spacers. Finally, a combination of the patterned and continuous unpatterned conductive layers form a single, bi-layered, electrically continuous second electrode. |
| US08013512B1 |
Flat panel display incorporating a control frame
A flat panel display including: a plurality of electrically addressable pixels; a plurality of thin-film transistor driver circuits each being electrically coupled to an associated at least one of the pixels, respectively; a passivating layer on the thin-film transistor driver circuits and at least partially around the pixels; a conductive frame on the passivating layer; and, a plurality of nanostructures on the conductive frame; wherein, exciting the conductive frame and addressing one of the pixels using the associated driver circuit causes the nanostructures to emit electrons that induce the one of the pixels to emit light. |
| US08013511B2 |
Highly-efficient electron-emitting device and image display apparatus having a substrate with a distribution of nitrogen containing ratio
An electron-emitting device has a pair of device electrodes formed on a substrate and an electroconductive film connected to the device electrodes. The electroconductive film has a first gap between the device electrodes and has a carbon film having a second gap at least in the first gap. The substrate is formed by stacking a nitrogen-contained activation suppressing layer and an activation accelerating layer having a nitrogen containing ratio smaller than that of the activation suppressing layer onto a base and has nitrogen containing ratio distribution in the activation suppressing layer in a film thickness direction. The nitrogen containing ratio of the activation suppressing layer at the activation accelerating layer side is smaller than that at the base side. |
| US08013507B2 |
Cold cathode fluorescent lamp with phosphor layer formed of phosphor particles and a bonding agent including boron oxide, formed on an inner surface of a glass tube thereof
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp which makes a step dedicated to the acquisition of advantageous effects unnecessary without lowering an optical flux maintaining factor and, at the same time, prevents peeling-off of a phosphor layer in a step of bending light transmitting glass tube is provided. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp includes a light-transmitting glass tube, a phosphor layer which is formed on an inner surface of the light-transmitting glass tube, mercury and a rare gas which is filled in the inside of the light-transmitting glass tube, and cold cathodes which are arranged in a sealed manner in both end portions of the light-transmitting glass tube in a state that the cold cathodes face each other in an opposed manner, wherein the phosphor layer is constituted of a plurality of phosphor particles and a bonding agent. The bonding agent is made of aluminum oxide and boron oxide. The phosphor particles are covered with the bonding agent by coating. The phosphor particles and the bonding agent are bonded to the inner surface of the light-transmitting glass tube thus protecting surfaces of the phosphor particles with aluminum oxide. |
| US08013502B2 |
Small-diameter spark plug with resistive seal
A spark plug (10) includes an intermediate connecting pin (54) disposed in the central passage (28) of an the insulator body (12). The connecting pin (54) seats in an intermediate taper section (72) within the central passage (28), which is generally frustoconical and establishes a transition between a first larger diameter of the central passage (28) and a second smaller diameter. The intermediate tapered section (72) is located longitudinally above a filleted transition (26) feature of the insulator body (12) exterior. A pin head (53) of the connecting pin (54) has a complementary tapered under-cut and seats against the intermediate tapered section (72) to provide self-centering of the connecting pin (54) without trapping gas during the assembly process. The intermediate taper section (72) also provides an increase in insulator wall thickness which improves dielectric capacity and structural integrity of the insulator (12). |
| US08013501B2 |
LED-based light bulb device
An LED light bulb device including a bulb body, a cap and an LED assembly. The bulb body defines an exterior surface and an interior. The cap is mounted to the bulb body, combining to define a light bulb-like structure. The LED assembly includes a substrate, LEDs, transformer circuitry and connective circuitry. The LEDs and the connective circuitry are maintained by the substrate, with the connective circuitry electrically connecting the LEDs and the transformer circuitry. The transformer circuitry is adapted to modify incoming power for powering the LEDs. The LED assembly is mounted to the light bulb-like structure such that the LEDs are disposed along the exterior surface of the bulb body, with light from the LEDs being directed inwardly into the interior and then outwardly from the interior. The LED assembly can further include a heat sink body encompassing the LEDs. |
| US08013499B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrator having a piezoelectric vibrating strip in a cavity
There is provided a method of manufacturing a package 1 having a base substrate 10 and a lid substrate 20 bonded to each other and both formed of a glass base material; and a cavity C formed between the both substrates for storing an encapsulated object 2 in a state of being hermetically encapsulated, including: a depression forming step for forming a depression C1 for a cavity which defines the cavity when the both substrates are superimposed to each other on at least one of the both substrates; and a bonding step for superimposing the both substrates so as to store the encapsulated object in the depression and then bonding the both substrates to encapsulate the encapsulated object in the cavity, characterized in that in the depression forming step, printed layers 12 are laminated on an upper surface of a flat plate-shaped glass base material 11 in a frame shape in plan view by screen printing, and then the printed layers and the glass base material are baked at the same time to form the depression. |
| US08013497B2 |
Piezoelectric power generator
A piezoelectric power generator that includes a support body, a piezoelectric element, and a bias compressive stress applying member. The piezoelectric element is placed on the support body. The piezoelectric element has a piezoelectric plate that is polarized in the thickness direction, and first and second electrodes that are each provided on a surface of the piezoelectric plate. The bias compressive stress applying member is supported on the side above the piezoelectric element by the support body. The bias compressive stress applying member applies to the piezoelectric element a bias compressive stress acting in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric plate, so that the magnitude of a compressive stress in the piezoelectric plate changes with a change in externally applied stress. |
| US08013496B2 |
Piezo electric linear motor
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric linear motor that can make relatively low abrasion and accurate linear movement since stationary AC voltages are applied to two piezoelectric elements with a phase difference. The present invention provides a piezoelectric linear motor, comprising: a piezoelectric substrate having a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element, wherein AC voltages are applied to the first and second piezoelectric elements with a phase difference; a metallic elastic body having first and second elastic bodies coupled to the piezoelectric elements and a central protrusion protruded at the central portion connecting the first and second elastic bodies, wherein the central protrusion oscillates elliptically during an application of the voltage; and a mover brought into contact with the central protrusion of the metallic elastic body for a linear movement, and wherein the movement of the mover is orthogonal to the central protrusion. |
| US08013487B2 |
Hydrodynamic bearing device, and spindle motor and information apparatus equipped with same
With a hydrodynamic bearing device 10, a first gap G1 is formed between a shaft 12 and a sleeve 11. A second gap G2 is formed between a sleeve cap 16 and the sleeve 11, and holds a lubricant 17. A thrust bearing member 21 is disposed near the inner peripheral surface of a center hole 16a of the sleeve cap 16. A third gap G3 is formed between the thrust bearing member 21 and the sleeve cap 16, and is open to the atmosphere. A fourth gap G4 is formed between the thrust bearing member 21 and the sleeve 11. The lubricant 17 circulates along a circulation passage that includes a communicating path 11b, the first gap G1 and the second gap G2. |
| US08013483B2 |
Hybrid drive device
The hybrid drive device wherein: a case space is divided by a partition wall into a first case part and a second case part; a drive electric motor is provided in the first case part; a friction engagement element is provided in the second case part; and a through hole that communicates the case spaces is formed. |
| US08013480B2 |
Linear vibration motor
A linear vibration motor according to an aspect of the invention may include: a case having a cavity to receive a mass therein; a movable part generating a magnetic field inside the case and moving in a transverse direction while being secured to the mass; a coil part generating a force, by which the mass performs a linear reciprocating motion, by interaction with the magnetic field generated from the movable part upon receiving power; and a support plate dividing the cavity in which the coil part is mounted to face the movable part. |
| US08013479B2 |
High power-density power generating module
A high power-density power generating module, comprising: a magnet unit having a plurality of adjacent magnets with opposite magnet-pole arrangement against adjacent ones, each with a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole; and a winding unit having a plurality of adjacent windings around the adjacent magnets; wherein the magnet unit is capable of moving relatively to the winding unit and the angle between the linking direction of the magnetic north pole and the magnetic south pole of each magnet and the winding surface of each winding is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees. |
| US08013477B2 |
Power system having a power saving mechanism
A power system having a power saving mechanism includes a voltage regulator, a power input module, and a switching signal generation unit. The voltage regulator performs a regulation operation on a first voltage for generating a second voltage. The power input module includes a transformer, a rectifying unit, a switch, and a switch control unit. The rectifying unit together with the transformer is put in use for converting an input voltage into the first voltage. The switch is employed to control a current flowing through the primary winding of the transformer. The switch control unit generates a control signal for controlling the switch according to a switching signal. The switching signal generation unit is utilized for generating the switching signal to disable the switch control unit during an energy transfer disable interval so as to decrease the first voltage from a first predetermined voltage to a second predetermined voltage. |
| US08013476B2 |
Auto power controller of external equipment on valid check
The present invention relates to a power controller for at least one piece of external equipment, the power controller being connected to the external equipment. The power controller includes a main unit (203) for transmitting an external equipment status checking request signal, required to detect an abnormality of the external equipment, to the external equipment at preset regular intervals or at a preset time point, determining that an abnormality has occurred in the external equipment when an abnormality is present in an external equipment status checking signal received from the external equipment in response to the external equipment status checking request signal, or when no external equipment status checking signal is received, and consequently transmitting a power reset request signal to an expansion unit (201). The expansion unit (201) resets power of the external equipment in response to the received power reset request signal. |
| US08013472B2 |
Method for distributed power harvesting using DC power sources
A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter. |
| US08013470B2 |
System and method for supplying power to a power grid
System and methods for supplying electric power to a power grid are disclosed. The system includes a power generation source, a charging station for charging a zinc-based energy storage device from the power generation source, and a transport module for transporting the zinc-based energy storage device. The system also includes an input station for supplying power to the power grid from the zinc-based energy storage device, and a controller for selectively discharging the zinc-based energy storage device to the power grid based on the initiation signal. |
| US08013469B2 |
System and process for power supply to a railway vehicle, converter, control unit, and air-conditioning unit for the system
A power supply system for a railway vehicle is provided including a converter able to receive information from a transmission system between a power supply unit and air-conditioning units and to deduce from this information the demand for electrical power from each air-conditioning unit, this demand indicating the electrical power required by that air-conditioning unit to cool and/or dehumidify the air within a car in which it is installed, and the first electrical converter being equipped with a module for adjusting the amplitude and/or frequency of the three-phase voltage in a power supply network in response to the demands transmitted by each air-conditioning unit. |
| US08013468B2 |
Self-diagnosing transmission system
A system transmits electric signals, electric energy or media over short distances between units movable relative to each other. The system has at least one first unit disposed along the trajectory of the movement and at least one second unit disposed for movement relative to the first unit. A diagnosis unit is associated with at least one of the units to detect the condition of at least one of said movable units and signals that detected condition to a central control unit. |
| US08013457B2 |
Human power generation using dual pulls
An electric power generation system is disclosed. The electric power generation system includes: a first string and a second string configured to be pulled; a first portion of a bobbin configured to rotate in a direction when the first string is unwound from the bobbin as the first string is pulled; a second portion of a bobbin configured to rotate in the direction when the second string is unwound from the bobbin as the second string is pulled; and an electric power generator having a rotor wherein the rotor is mechanically coupled to the bobbin. The pulling of the second string causes the first string to retract and the pulling of the first string causes the second string to retract. |
| US08013449B2 |
Post passivation interconnection schemes on top of the IC chips
A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric and a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide post-passivation interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick passivation interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate. |
| US08013447B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The semiconductor device includes an upper electrode line structure and a lower electrode line structure provided over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a guard contact having a first portion and a second portion. The guard contact is disposed between the upper electrode line structure and the lower electrode line structure. The first and second portions of the guard contact have different line widths. |
| US08013445B2 |
Low resistance high reliability contact via and metal line structure for semiconductor device
A semiconductor contact structure includes a copper plug formed within a dual damascene, single damascene or other opening formed in a dielectric material and includes a composite barrier layer between the copper plug and the sidewalls and bottom of the opening. The composite barrier layer preferably includes an ALD TaN layer disposed on the bottom and along the sides of the opening although other suitable ALD layers may be used. A barrier material is disposed between the copper plug and the ALD layer. The barrier layer may be a Mn-based barrier layer, a Cr-based barrier layer, a V-based barrier layer, a Nb-based barrier layer, a Ti-based barrier layer, or other suitable barrier layers. |
| US08013444B2 |
Solder joints with enhanced electromigration resistance
Electronic assemblies and solders used in electronic assemblies are described. One embodiment includes a die and a substrate, with a solder material positioned between the die and the substrate, the solder comprising at least 91 weight percent Sn, 0.4 to 1.0 weight percent Cu and at least one dopant selected from the group consisting of Ag, Bi, P, and Co. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08013442B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, a plurality of opening regions 5 to 8 are formed in an insulating film on a pad electrode 3. A metal layer 9 formed on the pad electrode 3 has a plurality of concave portions 10 to 13 formed therein by covering the opening regions 5 to 8. Moreover, in a peripheral portion at a bottom of each of the concave portions 10 to 13 in the metal layer 9, the metal layer 9 and a Cu plating layer 19 react with each other. By use of this structure, the metal reaction area serves as a current path on the pad electrode 3. Thus, a resistance value on the pad electrode 3 is reduced. |
| US08013439B2 |
Injection molded metal stiffener for packaging applications
In some embodiments, an injection molded metal stiffener for packaging applications is presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a microelectronic device package substrate, a microelectronic device coupled with a top surface of the package substrate, and an injection-molded, metal stiffener coupled with the package substrate, wherein the stiffener includes a central opening and at least partially surrounds the microelectronic device. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08013435B2 |
Semiconductor module
A semiconductor module includes a base plate, at least one semiconductor chip mounted on the base plate, a case fixed to the base plate and surrounding the at least one semiconductor chip, an electrically insulating gel layer covering the at least one semiconductor chip, a thermosetting resin layer formed on top of the gel layer, and a lid formed on top of the thermosetting resin layer. The lid comprises a lid-extension, which defines a lid-opening. The lid-opening extends through the thermosetting resin layer to the gel layer and allows gel of the gel layer to expand into the lid-opening. |
| US08013433B2 |
Virtual wire assembly having hermetic feedthroughs
A virtual wire assembly that includes a substantially electrically-nonconductive substrate and a plurality of hermetic feedthroughs including a conductive region extending transversely through the substrate to form a conductive pathway with accessible surfaces at opposing ends thereof, wherein each conductive pathway is electrically isolated from other conductive pathways. In certain embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the substantially electrically-nonconductive substrate is a semiconductor device, and the conductive regions each include an n-type or a p-type doped semiconductor material. |
| US08013428B2 |
Whisker-free lead frames
A method of fabricating an interconnection between a region of copper material and a conducting region is disclosed. The method includes a step of forming a region of tin material and a step of forming a region of nickel material. The method also includes a step of melting the tin material to induce formation of a nickel/tin/copper intermetallic composition at an interface between the region of copper material and the conducting region. The region of tin material and the region of nickel material define the interface between the region of copper material and the conducting region. |
| US08013424B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating film; a channel region formed in a region of the semiconductor substrate below the gate electrode; an epitaxial crystal layer containing a conductive impurity, which is formed sandwiching the channel region and has a function as a source region and a drain region, and formed on a recess in the semiconductor substrate; and a growth suppressing portion formed on the recess in the semiconductor substrate, and configured to suppress an epitaxial growth of a crystal in the epitaxial layer from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08013423B2 |
Method for fabricating a metal interconnection using a dual damascene process and resulting semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulating layer including a plurality of trenches connecting to a number of via holes formed on a semiconductor substrate including lower interconnections, wherein widths of the trenches are greater than widths of the via holes, and metal interconnections formed by burying metal thin films in the via holes and the trenches. Depths of the trenches are adjusted differently from each other depending on required resistances of the metal interconnections. |
| US08013421B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has an electrical fuse formed on a substrate, having a first interconnect, a second interconnect respectively formed in different layers, and a via provided in a layer between the first interconnect and the second interconnect, connected to one end of the second interconnect and connected also to the first interconnect; and a guard interconnect portion formed in the same layer with the second interconnect, so as to surround such one end of the second interconnect, wherein, in a plan view, the second interconnect is formed so as to extend from the other end towards such one end, and the guard interconnect portion is formed so as to surround such one end of the second interconnect in three directions, while placing such one end at the center thereof. |
| US08013419B2 |
Structure and method to form dual silicide e-fuse
An e-fuse structure and method has anode, a fuse link, and a cathode. The first end of the fuse link is connected to the anode and the second end of the fuse link opposite the first end is connected to the cathode. This structure also includes a first silicide layer on the anode and the fuse link and a second silicide layer, different than the first silicide layer, on the cathode. The difference between the first silicide layer and the second silicide layer causes an enhanced flux divergence region at the second end of the fuse link. |
| US08013417B2 |
Low cost substrates and method of forming such substrates
In one embodiment, the invention provides engineered substrates having a support with surface pits, an intermediate layer of amorphous material arranged on the surface of the support so as to at least partially fill the surface pits, and a top layer arranged on the intermediate layer. The invention also provides methods for manufacturing the engineered substrates which deposit an intermediate layer on a pitted surface of a support so as to at least partially fill the surface pits, then anneal the intermediate layer, then assemble a donor substrate with the annealed intermediate layer to form an intermediate structure, and finally reduce the thickness of the donor substrate portion of the intermediate structure in order to form the engineered substrate. |
| US08013413B2 |
Distance image sensor
In a range image sensor 8, when a first reverse bias voltage applied between a semiconductor substrate 11 and first semiconductor regions 13 is an H bias, first depleted layers A1 and A1 expanding from the p-n junctions of the first semiconductor regions 13 adjacent to each other expand and link to each other so as to cover a second depleted layer B1 expanding from the p-n junction of a second semiconductor region 14. Accordingly, carriers C generated near the rear surface 11a of the semiconductor substrate 11 are reliably captured by the first depleted layers A1. Further, when a second reverse bias voltage applied between the semiconductor substrate 11 and the second semiconductor regions 14 is an H bias, the second depleted layers adjacent to each other expand and link to each other so as to cover the first depleted layer. Accordingly, carriers generated near the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate are reliably captured by the second depleted layers. |
| US08013410B2 |
Imaging device, method for manufacturing the imaging device and cellular phone
An imaging device includes a lens (3), an optical filter (5), a semiconductor imaging element (4) having a light receiving section, and a tridimensional substrate (2) on which the semiconductor imaging element (4) and the optical filter (5) are mounted, wherein the tridimensional substrate (2) has an opening (14) corresponding to the light receiving section of the semiconductor imaging element (4), the semiconductor imaging element (4) and the optical filter (5) are located on one side of the opening (14), the lens (3) is located on the other side of the opening (14), and the semiconductor imaging element (4) and the optical filter (5) are fixed to the tridimensional substrate (2) under the condition that the semiconductor imaging element (4) and the optical filter (5) are curved, and have respective centers moved in a direction away from the lens (3). |
| US08013402B2 |
Transistors with multilayered dielectric films
Transistors that include multilayered dielectric films on a channel region are provided. The multilayered dielectric comprises a lower dielectric film that may have a thickness that is at least 50% the thickness of the multilayered dielectric film and that comprises a metal oxide, a metal silicate, an aluminate, or a mixture thereof, and an upper dielectric film on the lower dielectric film, the upper dielectric film comprising a Group III metal oxide, Group III metal nitride, Group XIII metal oxide or Group XIII metal nitride. A gate electrode is provided on the multilayered dielectric film. |
| US08013397B2 |
Embedded stressed nitride liners for CMOS performance improvement
The present invention provides a semiconducting device including a gate region positioned on a mesa portion of a substrate; and a nitride liner positioned on the gate region and recessed surfaces of the substrate adjacent to the gate region, the nitride liner providing a stress to a device channel underlying the gate region. The stress produced on the device channel is a longitudinal stress on the order of about 275 MPa to about 450 MPa. |
| US08013394B2 |
Integrated circuit having resistor between BEOL interconnect and FEOL structure and related method
Integrated circuits (IC) and a method of fabricating an IC, where the structure of the IC incorporates a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) thin film resistor below a first metal layer to achieve lower topography are disclosed. The resistor directly contacts any one of: a contact metal in the front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) structure; first metal layer in the BEOL interconnect; or the combination thereof, to avoid the necessity of forming contacts with differing heights or contacts over varying topography. |
| US08013387B2 |
Power semiconductor devices with shield and gate contacts and methods of manufacture
A semiconductor power device includes active trenches that define an active area and an edge area that is located outside of the active area. The active trenches include a lower shield poly, an upper gate poly, a first oxide layer and a second oxide layer wherein the first oxide layer separates the lower shield poly from the upper gate poly and the second oxide layer covers the upper gate poly. The lower shield poly, upper gate poly, first oxide layer and second oxide layer conform to the shapo of the active trench and extend from the active trench to a surface of the edge area. The edge area includes a first opening that extends through the first oxide layer to the lower shield poly and a second opening that extends through the second oxide layer to the upper gate poly. |
| US08013383B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device including a plurality of memory strings
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings in which a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells are connected in series. The memory string has a columnar semiconductor layer extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a conductive layer formed so as to sandwich a charge storing layer in cooperation with the columnar semiconductor layer; and a metal layer formed so as to be in contact with the top face of the conductive layer. |
| US08013381B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; first to third high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistors formed on a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first device isolation insulating film that is formed in the semiconductor substrate and isolates the first high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor and the second high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor from each other; a second device isolation insulating film that is formed in the semiconductor substrate and isolates the first high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor and the third high-voltage insulated-gate field effect transistor from each other; a first impurity diffusion layer of the first conductivity type that is formed below the first device isolation insulating film; and a second impurity diffusion layer of the first conductivity type that is formed below the second device isolation insulating film. |
| US08013378B2 |
Memory device having additional selection transistors and main bit lines
A semiconductor memory device has an element isolation region between rewrite units of memory cells. A plurality of memory cells are memory cell groups arranged in a row direction, and each memory cell group consists of (8×N) memory cells arranged in a row direction as a unit to be used as a storage region. The number of a plurality of selection word lines is at least eight, and the number of selection transistors corresponding to at least N is connected to each of the plurality of selection word lines. At least one selection transistor in addition to (8×N) selection transistors are connected in total to the plurality of selection word lines. A plurality of main bit lines includes at least one main bit line in addition to (4×N) main bit lines connected to the common drain of a pair of selection transistors. |
| US08013375B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices including diagonal bit lines
A semiconductor memory device may include a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of active regions wherein each active region has a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis. The length may be greater than the width, and the plurality of active regions may be provided in a plurality of columns in the direction of the second axis. A plurality of wordline pairs may be provided on the substrate, with each wordline pair crossing active regions of a respective column of active regions defining a drain portion of each active region between wordlines of the respective wordline pair. A plurality of bitlines on the substrate may cross the plurality of wordline pairs, with each bitline being electrically coupled to a drain portion of a respective active region of each column, and with each bitline crossing drain portions of active regions of adjacent columns in different directions so that different portions of a same bitline are aligned in different directions on different active regions of adjacent columns. |
| US08013374B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices including offset bit lines
A semiconductor memory device may include a substrate having a plurality of active regions wherein each active region has a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis. The length may be greater than the width, and the plurality of active regions may be provided in a plurality of columns of active regions in the direction of the second axis. A plurality of wordline pairs may be provided on the substrate, with each wordline pair crossing active regions of a respective column of active regions defining a drain portion of each active region between wordlines of the respective wordline pair. A plurality of bitlines on the substrate may cross the plurality of wordline pairs, with each bitline being electrically coupled to a respective drain portion of an active region of each column, and with each bitline being arranged between the respective drain portion and another drain portion of an adjacent active region of the same column. |
| US08013372B2 |
Integrated circuit including a stressed dielectric layer with stable stress
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having an active region and an opening in the substrate adjacent to the active region. The opening is filled with a dielectric material so as to provide an isolation region in the substrate. A transistor is also formed in the active region and a pre-metal dielectric layer formed over the substrate and transistor. At least one of the dielectric layer in isolation region or the pre-metal dielectric layer includes a stressed O3 TEOS oxide having a stress retaining dopant, wherein the concentration of the stress retaining dopant is sufficient to retard stress degradation of the O3 TEOS oxide. |
| US08013370B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device has a substrate in which are formed a pixel array portion having a plurality of pixels, and a peripheral circuitry portion. The device is characterized in that a first multilevel metallization structure is formed over the peripheral circuitry portion, and a second multilevel metallization structure thinner than the first multilevel metallization structure is formed over the pixel array portion. |
| US08013363B2 |
Nonvolatile nanotube diodes and nonvolatile nanotube blocks and systems using same and methods of making same
Under one aspect, a nonvolatile nanotube diode includes: a substrate; a semiconductor element disposed over the substrate, the semiconductor element having an anode and a cathode and capable of forming an electrically conductive pathway between the anode and the cathode; a nanotube switching element disposed over the semiconductor element, the nanotube switching element including a conductive contact and a nanotube fabric element capable of a plurality of resistance states; and a conductive terminal disposed in spaced relation to the conductive contact, wherein the nanotube fabric element is interposed between and in electrical communication with the conductive contact and the conductive contact is in electrical communication with the cathode, and wherein in response to electrical stimuli applied to the anode and the conductive terminal, the nonvolatile nanotube diode is capable of forming an electrically conductive pathway between the anode and the conductive terminal. |
| US08013361B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
Gate electrodes 5A through 5F are formed to have the same geometry, and protruding parts of the gate electrodes 5A through 5F extend across an isolation region onto impurity diffusion regions. The gate electrode 5B and P-type impurity diffusion regions 7B6 are connected through a shared contact 9A1 to a first-level interconnect M1H, and the gate electrode 5E and N-type impurity diffusion regions 7A6 are connected through a shared contact 9A2 to a first-level interconnect M1I. In this way, contact pad parts of the gate electrodes 5A through 5F can be located apart from active regions of a substrate for MOS transistors. This suppresses the influence of the increased gate length due to hammerhead and gate flaring. As a result, transistors TrA through TrF can have substantially the same finished gate length. |
| US08013358B2 |
Light emitting diode
The invention provides a light emitting diode. The light emitting diode includes a ceramic substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A first conductive trace metal layer and a second conductive trace metal layer are disposed on the first surface of the ceramic substrate. At least one light emitting diode chip is disposed on the first surface of the ceramic substrate, respectively and electrically connected to the first and second conductive trace metal layers. A plurality of thermal metal pads is disposed on the second surface of the ceramic substrate, wherein the thermal metal pads are electrically isolated from the light emitting diode chip. |
| US08013353B2 |
Light-emitting element
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a second electrode layer, a light emitting semiconductor layer including a second conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first conductive semiconductor layer on the second electrode layer, a reflective member spaced apart from the light emitting semiconductor layer on the second electrode layer, and a first electrode layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer. |
| US08013351B2 |
Leak-proof LED base structure
A leak-proof LED (Light Emitting Diode) base structure includes a ceramic substrate and a ceramic reflection ring. The ceramic reflection ring is coupled to the ceramic substrate by a heat-resistant epoxy resin to prevent encapsulant filled in an LED base from flowing out through a junction between the ceramic reflection ring and the ceramic substrate. A groove for receiving an overflow of the heat-resistant epoxy resin is formed on a coupling surface of the ceramic reflection ring. The ceramic reflection ring has a polished reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted by an LED die so as to increase luminosity of the light emitted by the LED. A lens positioning portion is formed on the top of the polished reflecting surface for allowing a lens to be precisely aligned with the ceramic reflection ring, enhancing preciseness of lens assembly, and improving resultant optical configuration of the light emitted by the LED. |
| US08013348B2 |
Semiconductor device with a driver circuit for light emitting diodes
A novel semiconductor device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, a plurality of transistors, a source pad, and a plurality of wires. The plurality of transistors drive the plurality of light emitting diodes. The source pad is connected to sources of the plurality of transistors and supplies an electric current to each of the plurality of transistors. The plurality of wires connect the source pad and the sources of the plurality of transistors. The plurality of wires also provide substantially equal resistance to the electric current passing therethrough. |
| US08013347B2 |
Remote control lighting assembly and use thereof
A remote-controllable lighting device comprising a first substrate and an adjacent second substrate maintained in a spaced apart relationship to allow airflow therebetween and at least partly overlapping each other, at least the second substrates carrying thereon at least one emission sources, the first substrate being located towards a proximal end of the device and the second substrate being located towards a distal end of the device; said first substrate being arranged so as to allow light generated by the at least one located second light emission source to pass thereby in a direction defining a primary light emission direction and said first light emission source located so as to emit light in said primary light emission direction; said first and second substrate being in thermal communication so as to allow heat generated by the at least one light emission sources to flow between the substrates so as to provide thermal distribution between the substrates, the first and second substrate being formed of a thermally conductive material suitable for convection of the generated heat therefrom; a signal detector for receiving a wirelessly transmitted control signal from a remote control device; said signal receiver being located proximal of the first substrate in the primary light emission direction; and a controller in communication with said signal detector and the light emission sources and for controlling at least one characteristic of at least one light emission source responsive to said control signal. |
| US08013342B2 |
Double-sided integrated circuit chips
A double-sided integrated circuit chips, methods of fabricating the double-sided integrated circuit chips and design structures for double-sided integrated circuit chips. The method includes removing the backside silicon from two silicon-on-insulator wafers having devices fabricated therein and bonding them back to back utilizing the buried oxide layers. Contacts are then formed in the upper wafer to devices in the lower wafer and wiring levels are formed on the upper wafer. The lower wafer may include wiring levels. The lower wafer may include landing pads for the contacts. Contacts to the silicon layer of the lower wafer may be silicided. |
| US08013341B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, the gate electrode including a first portion of a metal oxide layer and a metal layer; a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate and including a second portion of the metal oxide layer; a gate insulating layer covering the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer and including a channel region, and first and second regions disposed outside the channel region; a first electrode connected to the first region; a second electrode connected to the second region and the pixel electrode; an ohmic contact layer disposed between the first region and the first electrode and between the second region and the second electrode; a pixel defining layer including an opening exposing the pixel electrode; an organic light-emitting layer disposed on the pixel electrode; and an opposite electrode covering the organic light-emitting layer. |
| US08013337B2 |
Thin film transistor and display device using the same
A thin film transistor including an active layer formed on an insulating substrate and having channel, source, and drain regions formed therein; a gate electrode formed over the channel region of the active layer; source and drain electrodes respectively formed over the source and drain regions of the active layer; and a body contact region formed in the active layer so that the body contact region is in contact with the channel region and separated from the source and drain regions, wherein a voltage is applied to the channel region through the body contact region, and the body contact region is connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode. |
| US08013335B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and fabrication method of the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device capable of preventing deterioration due to penetration of moisture or oxygen, for example, a light-emitting apparatus having an organic light-emitting device that is formed over a plastic substrate, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using a plastic substrate. According to the present invention, devices formed on a glass substrate or a quartz substrate (a TFT, a light-emitting device having an organic compound, a liquid crystal device, a memory device, a thin-film diode, a pin-junction silicon photoelectric converter, a silicon resistance element, or the like) are separated from the substrate, and transferred to a plastic substrate having high thermal conductivity. |
| US08013332B2 |
Portable memory devices
Improved techniques to produce integrated circuit products are disclosed. The improved techniques permit smaller and less costly production of integrated circuit products. One aspect of the invention concerns covering test contacts (e.g., test pins) provided with the integrated circuit products using printed ink. Once covered with the ink, the test contacts are no longer electrically exposed. Hence, the integrated circuit products are not susceptible to accidental access or electrostatic discharge. Moreover, the integrated circuit products can be efficiently produced in a small form factor without any need for additional packaging or labels to electrically isolate the test contacts. |
| US08013325B2 |
Thin film transistor, organic light emitting device including thin film transistor, and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor, a method thereof and an organic light emitting device including the thin film transistor. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the thin film transistor includes a substrate, a control electrode, an insulating layer, a first electrode and a second electrode, a first ohmic contact layer and a second ohmic contact layer, and a semiconductor layer. The control electrode is formed on the substrate, and the insulating layer is formed on the control electrode. The first and the second electrodes are formed on the insulating layer. The first ohmic contact layer and the second ohmic contact layer are formed on the first electrode and the second electrode. The semiconductor layer is formed on the first ohmic contact layer and the second ohmic contact layer to fill between the first and the second electrodes. |
| US08013324B2 |
Structurally stabilized semiconductor nanowire
In one embodiment, a semiconductor nanowire having a monotonically increasing width with distance from a middle portion toward adjoining semiconductor pads is provided. A semiconductor link portion having tapered end portions is lithographically patterned. During the thinning process that forms a semiconductor nanowire, the taper at the end portions of the semiconductor nanowire provides enhanced mechanical strength to prevent structural buckling or bending. In another embodiment, a semiconductor nanowire having bulge portions are formed by preventing the thinning of a semiconductor link portion at pre-selected positions. The bulge portions having a greater width than a middle portion of the semiconductor nanowire provides enhanced mechanical strength during thinning of the semiconductor link portion so that structural damage to the semiconductor nanowire is avoided during thinning. |
| US08013323B2 |
Nitride semiconductor and method for manufacturing thereof
A P-type nitride semiconductor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A nitride semiconductor includes a P-type nitride layer formed on a active layer, wherein the P-type nitride layer is a P-type nitride layer with the group 4 element doped. |
| US08013322B2 |
Light-emitting diode device with a double-layer contact structure and a fabrication method thereof
The present invention provides a light-emitting diode (LED) device and a fabrication method thereof. The LED device has a double-layered contact layer structure with a surface of one contact layer being patterned to increase ohmic contact area of the double-layered contact layer structure to lower an operation voltage of the LED device, and hence reducing power consumption. |
| US08013320B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A nitride semiconductor device includes a semiconductor stacked structure which is formed of a nitride semiconductor having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface and which includes an active layer. The first principal surface of the semiconductor stacked structure is formed with a plurality of indentations whose plane orientations are the {0001} plane, and the plane orientation of the second principal surface is the {1-101} plane. The active layer is formed along the {1-101} plane. |
| US08013315B2 |
Charged particle beam apparatus, method of adjusting astigmatism using same and method of manufacturing device using same
A charged particle beam apparatus 300 for observing and estimating a sample W by applying a charged particle beam to sample W to detect secondary charged particles, such as electrons emitted from the sample, reflected electrons and backscattered electrons comprises astigmatism adjusting means 17 for adjusting astigmatism of the charged particle beam. Astigmatism adjusting means 17 is supplied with a correction voltage which maximizes a focal estimation value obtained from a pattern formed on sample W. Astigmatism adjusting means 17 is a multipole including a plurality of pairs of electrodes or coils facing each other to place the optical axis of the charged particle beam at the center. Also disclosed is a charged particle beam apparatus 400 capable of observation and estimation of a sample surface in a condition where no charge up exists over the whole sample W. |
| US08013314B2 |
Curable silicone compositions incorporating a fluorescent detection system
The present invention relates to curable silicone compositions which include a fluorescent agent for detection purposes and which have a cure system which enables the silicone compositions to possess improved depth of cure. The silicone compositions are photocurable, and may also be moisture or heat curable. |
| US08013310B2 |
Apparatus and method for image reconstruction for a synthetic aperture gamma ray imager
An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon a coded-aperture imaging device and positioned to receive radiation over a baseline, and a computer configured to acquire a plurality of far-field datasets over the baseline, the plurality of far-field datasets comprising data received via the coded-aperture imaging device, form a first image from the plurality of far-field datasets, and form a second image if the first image indicates presence of a source, the second image formed from the plurality of far-field datasets using an estimated source location from the first image and thereby having a higher contrast than the first image. |
| US08013303B2 |
Mobile remote detection of fluids by a laser
Apparatus for remote laser-based detection of a analyte in a remote target region; comprising a reference container for housing a reference substance identical with the analyte; a laser unit which constituted to emit a laser beam of a tuneable wavelength towards the target region to be analysed and along a reference path which passes through the reference container for detecting the reference substance; a laser control means constituted to control wavelength of the laser beam during detection periods such that the laser wavelength is changed to allow detection of an optical absorption profile of the analyte during detection periods; an analytical detection unit which detects light from the target region and generates analytical signals during the detection periods, a reference detection unit which detects laser light passed through the reference container and generates reference signals during the detection periods; and an analysing means constituted to analyse the similarity of the analytical and reference signals or of one or more calculated functions respectively calculated from the analytical and reference signals for determining the concentration of the analyte in the target region. |
| US08013300B2 |
Sample decontamination
Disclosed herein are methods that include: (a) exposing a sample in a chamber to a first gas, where the first gas reacts with surface contaminants on the sample to form a second gas; (b) removing at least a portion of the second gas from the chamber; and (c) exposing the sample to a charged particle beam to cause a plurality of particles to leave the sample and detecting at least some of the plurality of particles. The charged particle beam can include particles having a molecular weight of 40 atomic mass units or less. |
| US08013299B2 |
Review method and review device
A defect review method and a defect review device using an electron microscope, reduce the number of user processes necessary to set automatic focal adjustment of an electron beam to provide easier sample observation.The review method comprises the steps of: performing focal adjustment for a plurality of coordinate positions pre-registered on the coordinate on an object under observation; creating a criterion for focal adjustment based on a focal position at each of the plurality of coordinate positions; setting a focal probe range based on a deviation between the criterion and the focal position; and determining an automatic focal adjustment range for defect detection on the object under observation based on the set focal probe range. |
| US08013294B2 |
Charged-particle detector
This ion detector includes an MCP and a plurality of planar dynodes respectively having a plurality of slits. The plurality of planar dynodes are stacked via spacers parallel to an electron output plane of the MCP, and the first stage planar dynode is opposed parallel to the electron output plane. In accordance with this ion detector, it is possible to obtain output signals having the linearity reaching mV order, and to shorten its pulse width to approximately 600 ps. |
| US08013291B2 |
Method of controlling mass spectrometer and mass spectrometer
A method of controlling a mass spectrometer comprises the steps of: supplying a current to a cathode electrode of an ion source having the cathode electrode and an anode electrode, and ionizing a molecules of a gas to be measured; selecting ions generated in the ion source by mass-to-charge ratio; and detecting an ion current value of the selected ions. When a partial pressure of the gas to be measured is measured based on a detection result of the ion current value, a cathode current is supplied to the cathode electrode such that an emission current flowing between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode becomes constant. When a partial pressure of the gas to be measured is not measured, a constant current having a current value less than that of the cathode current is supplied to the cathode electrode. |
| US08013287B2 |
Optical pointing device, optical pointing system, and method of operating the same
An optical pointing device includes: an image obtaining part for continuously obtaining an image on a work surface as a sample image; a movement value calculator for comparing the sample image with the previously obtained image to calculate and output a movement value; a button selection signal generator for outputting a button selection signal corresponding to a specific reference pattern, when the sample image is the same as the specific reference pattern of a plurality of reference patterns; and a controller for providing the button selection signal and the movement value to a computing device when the button selection signal is transmitted from the button selection signal generator, and providing the movement value only to the computing device when the button selection signal is not transmitted from the button selection signal generator. Therefore, it is possible to recognize a plurality of specific patterns to generate button selection signals and replace mechanical selection buttons, thereby minimizing manufacturing cost and size of the optical pointing device. In addition, it is possible to readily change the number of button selection signals provided from the optical pointing device by changing the number of specific patterns. |
| US08013286B2 |
Nanoelectronic differential amplifiers and related circuits having graphene nanoribbons
A multiple transistor differential amplifier is implemented on a single graphene nanoribbon. Differential amplifier field effect transistors are formed on the graphene nanoribbon from a first group of electrical conductors in contact with the graphene nanoribbon and a second group of electrical conductors insulated from, but exerting electric fields on, the graphene nanoribbon thereby forming the gates of the field effect transistors. A transistor in one portion of the differential amplifier and a transistor in another portion of the differential amplifier are responsive to an incoming electrical signal. A current source, also formed on the graphene nanoribbon, is connected with the differential amplifier, and the current source and the differential amplifier operating together generate an outgoing signal responsive to the incoming electrical signal. |
| US08013284B2 |
Integrated electrooptic system
An integrated circuit includes at least one photosensitive element capable of delivering an electrical signal when light of at least one wavelength of the visible spectrum reaches it, and an electrooptic system functioning as an electrochemical shutter. The electrooptic system is located in the path of at least one light ray capable of reaching the photosensitive element and possesses at least one optical property, dependent on electrochemical reaction, that can be modified by an electrical control signal. The optical property is preferably transmission. |
| US08013278B2 |
Ceramic heater and glow plug
There are provided a ceramic heater in which a defect, such as generation of a gap at the interface between an insulating substrate and a heat-generating resistor, is unlikely to occur in the course of manufacture or use, and a glow plug using the ceramic heater. A ceramic heater 110 includes an insulating substrate 111 extending in the direction of an axis AX and a heat-generating resistor 115, which has a heat-generating portion 116, two lead portions 117, 117 and two lead lead-out portions 118a and 118b. The ceramic heater 110 satisfies an expression S1≦0.34 Sa, where Sa is the area of a cross section of the ceramic heater 110 taken perpendicular to the direction of the axis AX, and S1 is the total cross-sectional area of the two lead portions 117, 117 as measured in the cross section. |
| US08013276B2 |
Precision soldering tweezers with arms having adjustably positional distal ends
A pair of soldering tweezers having a first arm having a distal end that is adjustably positionable in a direction parallel to its central longitudinal axis and a second arm having a distal end that is adjustably positionable in a direction perpendicular to its central longitudinal axis. The tweezers also include a biasing mechanism configured to urge the distal ends of the first and second arms apart. |
| US08013273B2 |
Method for manufacturing absorption pad
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing an absorption pad used for picking up a package or a strip during a semiconductor manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a workpiece transfer device on which a workpiece is mounted, a laser generator installed above the workpiece transfer device while being spaced apart from the workpiece transfer device by a predetermined distance, a driving unit for moving the workpiece transfer device and the laser generator relative to each other, and a controller for controlling the laser generator. It is possible to precisely form patterns having various sizes and shapes according to use of the absorption pad and the size of the package. Processing conditions for the workpiece are standardized, so that the processing time and manufacturing cost for the absorption pad are minimized. |
| US08013270B2 |
Laser processing apparatus, laser processing method, manufacturing method of wiring substrate, manufacturing method of display apparatus and wiring substrate
A laser processing apparatus includes a support table, a local exhaust device, and a laser light source unit. The support table supports a processing object. The local exhaust device directs laser light into a local exhaust unit in which pressure is locally adjusted over the support table. The laser light source unit outputs the laser light. The local exhaust device is capable of relatively being lifted from the support table by injecting a lift gas to the support table. The processing object includes a multilayer film formed of two or more layers with different materials. An input unit into which reflectance of the processing object is inputted is connected to the laser light source unit. |
| US08013264B2 |
Seating detection switch
A thin, film-form seating switch able to detect whether an occupant sits on the seat or not, wherein, with a spacer (5) in-between, a film-form substrate (3) is disposed on one surface of the spacer and a film-form member (7) on the other surface, a first conductor (13) equipped with a first terminal (9) and a first electrode (11A) conductive with this and a second conductor (19) equipped with a second terminal (15) and a second electrode (17A) conductive with this are fixed to one surface of the film-form substrate, and a third conductor (21A) for letting the first electrode conduct with the second electrode when an occupant is seated is fixed to the film-form member (7). The above arrangement solves a conventional problem that it is troublesome to connect the connection terminals of wires or the like provided on a wiring harness or the like to respective terminals that are separately provided on a film-form substrate and a film-form member. |
| US08013259B2 |
Multi position divider clip
The present invention is directed toward a divider clip that holds a divider wall in a multi-channel raceway. The divider clip includes a base and sidewalls extending from ends of the base. The divider clip also includes removable clip fingers that extend from the base. One of the removable clip fingers is located at the center of the base while a second removable clip finger is located closer to one of the sidewalls. One of the clip fingers is removed from the divider clip to enable the remaining clip finger to hold to divider wall to separate the raceway into either a 50/50 channel split, a 60/40 channel split or a 40/60 channel split. |
| US08013257B2 |
Electronic component
The present invention provides an electronic component which is capable of effectively suppressing the characteristic deterioration of the passive element portion. An electronic component comprises a ceramic substrate, a passive element portion on the substrate, an insulator layer which is provided over the passive element portion and comprises a through-hole, a lead terminal which is fitted in the through-hole of the insulator layer and electrically connected to the passive element portion, and an external connection terminal which is electrically connected to the lead terminal. The insulator layer comprises a first face on the side of the passive element portion, a second face on the side opposite the passive element portion, and a third face which connects the first face and the second face and constitutes the peripheral face of the insulator layer, the external connection terminal is in contact with the lead terminal and the second face and the third face of the insulator layer. In a cross-section of the through-hole in a thickness direction of the substrate, a boundary line between the internal surface of the through-hole and the lead terminal is inclined in a direction moving away from a region of the third face with which the external connection terminal is in contact with an end of the boundary line on the side of the first face being taken as a fixed point. |
| US08013253B2 |
Electrical connection board and assembly of such a board and a semiconductor component comprising an integrated circuit chip
An electrical connection board includes electrical connection terminals on one face with a view toward connecting with a semiconductor component and electrical connection tracks connected respectively to these terminals. The terminals are arranged in a square matrix having two orthogonal directions. On its face, the board includes a multiplicity of identical adjacent connection groups, each group having N adjacent terminals and N tracks placed along this direction while extending towards an edge of the matrix. The terminals of a group are offset by one pitch relative to the terminals of an adjacent group. The board and a semiconductor component are connected together by electrical connection balls. |
| US08013252B2 |
Flexible interconnect cable with ribbonized ends
A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable. |
| US08013251B2 |
Electrical wire comprising an aromatic polyketone and polysiloxane/polyimide block copolymer composition
An electrical wire comprising a conductor and a covering disposed over the conductor. The covering comprises a thermoplastic composition. The thermoplastic composition comprises a blend of an aromatic polyketone and a polysiloxane/polyimide block copolymer. The composition can further comprise one or more additives. |
| US08013246B2 |
Push-in emergency stop cover with plug-in unit
A push-in emergency stop cover with a plug-in unit includes a retainer, a stop button, a lock cover, a lock base, a combination of a lock and lock spring assembled in the lock cover, a plug-in unit, a slide block, a push button and an associated spring, a slide block and associated spring, a groove provided in said lock cover, said plug-in unit having a key extending through an opening provided in said stop button and to one side of said slide block, the push button having a push rod provided with an inclined plane and a raised block having an inclined plane at the rear of the lock. When the plug-in unit is inserted in the stop button to separate the lock from a lockstitch of the lock base, the lock cover will open; the lock cover will not open when the plug-in unit is removed after the cover is locked. The stop button has a retainer to cover an opening in the stop button to prevent foreign obstacles from falling into the opening. |
| US08013242B1 |
Outdoor electrical box
A connection box provides power and/or data distribution for outdoor structures including decks, terraces and patios by including one or more connection points that are sheltered from moisture and harmful weather conditions by a lid having drip edges and a gasket. The connection box mounts flush with a surface so that it does not pose a tripping hazard, and can include a light to aid in locating the connection points. |
| US08013241B2 |
Ionic gel electrolyte, dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device and solar cell
Disclosed is a novel ionic liquid gel electrolyte having high photoelectric conversion efficiency. Also disclosed are a novel dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device using such an ionic liquid gel electrolyte, and a solar cell composed of such a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device. Specifically disclosed is an ionic liquid gel electrolyte obtained by gelling a liquid electrolyte by using an ionic organic oligomer gelling agent represented by the general formulae (1) and (2) below. Also specifically disclosed are a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device, wherein the ionic liquid gel electrolyte is arranged between a counter electrode and a dye-absorbed semiconductor substrate which is arranged in contact with a transparent conductive substrate, and a solar cell. |
| US08013236B2 |
Conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or heat energy
A parabolic primary mirror (10) has a concave specular surface (12) that is constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point. A secondary mirror (14) having a convex specular surface (16) is constructed and positioned to receive focused solar energy from the primary mirror and focus it onto an annular receiver (18). The annular receiver (18) may include an annular array of optical elements (100) constructed to receive solar energy from the secondary specular surface (14) and focus it onto a ring of discrete areas. A ring of solar-to-electrical conversion units are positioned on the ring of discrete areas. |
| US08013226B2 |
Methods for reducing leaf senescence using methyl dihydrojasmonate
Methods for reducing leaf senescence in plants or portions thereof by treating them with methyl dihydrojasmonate are disclosed. The methyl dihydrojasmonate may be in the form of an aqueous foliar spray, which may also include additives such as wetting agents, adjuvants, emulsifiers, dispersants, spreaders, surfactants, anchorage, disintegrants, and plant nutrients. |
| US08013223B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV251054
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV251054. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV251054, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV251054 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV251054 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV251054. |
| US08013221B2 |
Soybean variety D5852641
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5852641. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5852641. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5852641 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5852641 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08013215B2 |
Production of arachidonic acid in oilseed plants
Oilseed plants which have been transformed to produce arachidonic acid, recombinant constructs used in such transformations, methods for producing arachidonic acid in a plant are described and uses of oils and seeds obtained from such transformed plants in a variety of food and feed applications are described. |
| US08013210B2 |
Multi-generational pharmaceutically active protein production in corn
The present invention provides multi-generational production methods for producing pharmaceutically active proteins and other proteins in corn. The present invention also provides methods for breeding corn capable of producing pharmaceutically active proteins or other proteins. |
| US08013209B2 |
Clubroot resistant Brassica oleracea plants
The present invention discloses B. oleracea plants resistant to clubroot disease. In particular, the plants of the present invention comprise a monogenic dominant resistance to the disease clubroot introgressed from B. rapa. This resistance provides improved resistance to the disease as compared to previously existing resistances in B. oleracea. |
| US08013208B2 |
Methods for producing antibodies
This invention provides methods for producing antibodies, wherein the methods comprise the step of administering an immunogen comprising both a target antigen and a background antigen to transgenic animals, into which a gene coding for the background antigen has been introduced. Since immunotolerance to the background antigens have thus been induced in the transgenic animals, the animals efficiently produce antibodies to target antigens. |
| US08013205B2 |
Method for treating fly ash
A method for treating fly ash from incineration plants having at least one combustion chamber includes precipitating fly ash in a dust separator, and treating the fly ash using a gaseous reducing agent at a temperature between 600 and 700° C. so as to selectively convert a metal sulfate into at least one of a sulfide and a metallic form of the metal sulfate. |
| US08013204B2 |
Use of partly prehydrated lime for separating a solid matter/liquid mixture, method for treating sludge and purified sludge obtained by said method
A novel use of delayed reactivity partly prehydrated lime (“DRQL”), which is comprised of 40 to 98% by weight of CaO and of 60 to 2% by weight of Ca(OH)2, preferably of 80 to 92% by weight of CaO and of 20 to 8% by weight of Ca(OH)2, and more preferably of 85 to 90% by weight of CaO and of 15 to 10% by weight of Ca(OH)2, in the field of the separation of solid matter from the liquid of a suspension. The invention also involves a novel method for treating a sludge, in which the solid matter is concentrated, dried and recovered using the delayed reactivity partly prehydrated lime. It additionally relates to, as a novel industrial product, the purified sludge obtained according to the method. |
| US08013201B2 |
High energy reduction in a propane dehydrogenation unit by utilizing a high pressure product splitter column
An improved process for the production of olefins, and in particular for separation of olefins produced by a dehydrogenation process from paraffin feed stocks, is provided. A high pressure product splitter is used to separate olefins produced in a dehydrogenation plant from residual paraffin feed stocks. The use of a high pressure splitter to separate olefin products from paraffin feed stocks allows for recovery of a high purity olefin product with lower energy consumption compared to prior art processes. The process is particularly suited to separation of propylene from propane. |
| US08013200B2 |
Process for producing olefins
In a process for producing olefins by a metathesis reaction comprising feeding an olefin gas to pass the olefin through a catalyst bed in the presence of hydrogen gas to convert the olefin into another kind of olefin, the catalyst bed having a catalyst including at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, niobium, tantalum and vanadium, and a co-catalyst including a basic compound having at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group Ia (alkali metals), Group IIa (alkaline earth metals), Group IIb and Group IIIa of the periodic table, the improvement lies in controlling the superficial velocity of the gas passing through the catalyst bed to 0.01 to 2.0 m/sec. According to the present invention, the presence of hydrogen gas dramatically increases the durability of the metathesis catalytic activity and the by-production of paraffins is suppressed. |
| US08013199B2 |
Feed pretreating
This invention provides for a process for the alkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream having impurities in which a hydrocarbon feedstock is contacted with a first molecular sieve comprising Linde type X molecular sieve and having a Si/Al molar ratio of less than about 5 to remove at least a portion of said impurities and to produce a partially treated aromatic hydrocarbon stream; and then contacting said partially treated hydrocarbons stream with a second molecular sieve comprising a zeolite Y and having a Si/Al molar ratio of greater than about 5 to remove substantially all of the remaining portion of said impurities to produce a fully treated hydrocarbon feedstock having a reduced amount of impurities. The fully treated hydrocarbon feedstock is contacted with an alkylating agent in the presence of an alkylation catalyst having a cycle length and under alkylation conditions to produce an alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon stream. |
| US08013198B2 |
Process for simultaneous production of benzene and ethylene by conversion of acetylene
The present invention relates to a process for simultaneous production of benzene and ethylene by conversion of acetylene, comprising the steps: supplying a feed composition comprising about 5 to about 30 vol-% acetylene, about 5 to about 30 vol-% methane, about 5 to about 30 vol-% carbon dioxide and about 10 to about 70 vol-% hydrogen into a non-metallic reactor; and thermally reacting the feed composition in the reactor at a temperature in the range of about 600 to about 1000° C. |
| US08013197B2 |
Absorption and conversion of acetylenic compounds
A method for the absorption of alkynes and diolefins from an ethylene or propylene containing stream with conversion to alkenes by catalytic hydrogenation in a solvent over a fixed bed comprising a supported catalyst. |
| US08013195B2 |
Enhancing conversion of lignocellulosic biomass
A method for preparing biomass for slurry processing. The method includes solubilizing the solid material into either a dissolved state or a suspended solid in a liquid phase, and processing the liquid phase to produce chemicals and fuels. |
| US08013192B2 |
Process for preparing 1,3-propanediol
The invention provides a process for preparing 1,3-alkanediols, such as 1,3-propanediol (PDO), from 3-hydroxyaldehydes, such as 3-hydroxypropanal (HPA), comprising providing a mixture of 3-hydroxyaldehydes in an organic solvent; extracting into an aqueous liquid a major portion of the 3-hydroxyaldehydes to provide an aqueous phase comprising 3-hydroxyaldehydes in greater concentration than the concentration of 3-hydroxyaldehydes in the 3-hydroxyaldehyde mixture, and an organic phase; separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase; contacting the aqueous phase with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to provide a hydrogenation product mixture comprising 1,3-alkanediols and water; separating water from the 1,3-alkanediols using a multi-effect evaporation scheme; recycling water containing about 50 wt % or less 1,3-propanediol based upon the total amount of 1,3-propanediol and water to the extraction stage; and recovering 1,3-alkanediols. |
| US08013189B2 |
Accelerated amide and ester reductions with amine boranes and additives
In a process for the accelerated reduction of organic substrates, selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, nitriles, acids, ketones, imines or mixtures thereof, they are reacted with an amine borane, sulfide borane or ether borane complex as a borane source in the presence of organic accelerator compounds containing either Lewis acidic or Lewis basic sites in their structure, of which the Lewis acidic site can coordinate with the carbonyl or nitrile or imine group of the substrate or the Lewis basic site can coordinate with the borane. |
| US08013184B2 |
Manufacture process of organic compounds
The present invention relates to a method of preparing N-substituted salicylamides or derivatives thereof and their derivatives, e.g. their salts. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of preparing (N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC) and its corresponding disodium monohydrate. |
| US08013178B2 |
Mercaptosilanes and derivatives thereof
Mercaptosilanes are disclosed of the formula I wherein R1 is an alkyl polyether group —O—(R5—O)m—R6. They are prepared by a procedure in which a silane of the formula II is subjected to a catalyzed reaction with an alkyl polyether R1—H, R7—OH being split off, the molar ratio of the alkyl polyethers R1—H to the silane of the formula II is at least 0.5 and R7—OH is separated off from the reaction mixture continuously or discontinuously. They can be used in shaped articles. |
| US08013173B2 |
Method of purifying dianhydrides, the dianhydrides formed thereby, and polyetherimides formed therefrom
A method for purifying an oxydiphthalic anhydride comprises diluting a first mixture comprising an oxydiphthalic anhydride, a solvent, a catalyst, and an inorganic salt with a solvent, to provide a second mixture having a solids content of 10 to 30 percent based on total weight of the second mixture; filtering and washing the solids of the second mixture at a temperature below the crystallization point temperature of the oxydiphthalic anhydride to provide a third mixture; hydrolyzing the third mixture by adding water and a water-soluble acid to form a fourth mixture; heating the fourth mixture; then cooling to provide a solid-liquid mixture, optionally decanting a portion of the liquid, rediluting the remaining solid-liquid mixture, then filtering to provide a solid component; washing the solid component with water to provide a fifth mixture of oxydiphthalic tetraacid and water; ring closing the oxydiphthalic tetraacid to provide oxydiphthalic anhydride, and filtering the oxydiphthalic anhydride. |
| US08013169B2 |
Naphthylmethylimidizoles as therapeutic agents
Disclosed herein is a compound of the formula (a): Therapeutic methods, compositions and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed. |
| US08013166B2 |
Preparation and use of aryl alkyl acid derivatives for the treatment of obesity
This invention relates to certain aryl alkyl acid compounds, compositions, and methods for treating or preventing obesity and related diseases. |
| US08013165B2 |
Ethanamine compounds and methods of using the same 545
The present invention is directed to ethanamine compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of treating depression by administering the ethanamine compound. |
| US08013162B2 |
Water compatible sterically hindered alkoxyamines and hydroxy substituted alkoxyamines
Sterically hindered hydroxy substituted alkoxyamine stabilizer compounds are made water compatible via certain backbones with affinity towards water. The sterically hindered amines are for example of formulae (5)-(7) These compounds are particularly effective in stabilizing aqueous polymer systems against the deleterious effects of oxidative, thermal and actinic radiation. The compounds are effective for example in stabilizing water borne coatings, aqueous inks, aqueous ink jet media and photocured aqueous systems. |
| US08013157B2 |
Synthesis of unsaturated piperidines from piperidones with a silyl reagent
Syntheses of unsaturated piperidines from piperidones through a silyl piperidine reagent via the Shapiro reaction and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with organo halides. |
| US08013156B2 |
Tie-2 modulators and methods of use
The present invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinases, particularly Tie-2. Methods of using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions are also an aspect of the invention. |
| US08013153B2 |
Substituted pyrimidine kinase inhibitors
The present invention is directed to substituted pyrimidine compounds of formula (I): and forms thereof, their synthesis and use for treating a chronic or acute protein kinase mediated disease, disorder or condition. |
| US08013152B2 |
Biphenyl compounds useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists
The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, m, s, t, W, Z, Ar, R1, R2, R3, R6, and R7 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders. |
| US08013149B2 |
Methods and intermediates for the synthesis of porphyrins
A method of making a porphyrin (I) is carried out by condensing (i) a bis(imino)dipyrromethane of Formula II: with (ii) a dipyrromethaneto produce a reaction product; then (b) optionally oxidizing said reaction product with an oxidizing agent; and then (c) optionally demetallating said reaction product to produce the porphyrin. Methods of making compounds of Formula II are also described. |
| US08013145B2 |
SiRNA targeting cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (p27, Kip1) (CDKN1B)
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for CDKN1B. |
| US08013139B2 |
Promoter for introducing a gene into a lymphocyte or blood cell and application thereof
It is intended to provide a promoter for inducing expression selectively and strongly in an immunocompetent cell and/or a blood cell such as a lymphocyte. In the invention, the object was achieved by finding that HHV6 MIE promoter, HHV7 MIE promoter and HHV7 U95 promoter unexpectedly induce a specific expression in an immunocompetent cell and/or a blood cell such as a T lymphocyte. By utilizing the promoters, a selective delivery of a DNA vaccine or the like can be realized. |
| US08013129B2 |
Protein separation device
The invention provides a protein separation device comprising a chaperone protein immobilized on a substrate. In one embodiment, the chaperone protein is an Hsp60 chaperone, preferably a group one chaperone, preferably GroEL. The invention also provides a method for isolating a protein from a biological sample using a protein separation device of the invention. |
| US08013128B2 |
Antibodies and related molecules that bind to PSCA proteins
Antibodies and molecules derived therefrom that bind to novel PSCA protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein PSCA exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, PSCA provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The PSCA gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with PSCA can be used in active or passive immunization. |
| US08013126B2 |
84P2A9: a prostate and testis specific protein highly expressed in prostate cancer
A novel gene (designated 84P2A9) and its encoded protein is described. While 84P2A9 exhibits prostate and testis specific expression in normal adult tissue, it is aberrantly expressed multiple cancers including prostate, testis, kidney, brain, bone, skin, ovarian, breast, pancreas, colon, lymphocytic and lung cancers. Consequently, 84P2A9 provides a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for cancers, and the 84P2A9 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein or a fragment thereof used to elicit an immune response. |
| US08013124B2 |
Antibodies to human zcytor17 ligand
The present invention relates to zcytor17lig polynucleotide, polypeptide and anti-zcytor17 antibody molecules. The zcytor17lig is a novel cytokine. The polypeptides may be used within methods for stimulating the immune system, and proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto. |
| US08013121B2 |
Isolated nature-identical collagen
The present invention concerns isolated collagen, the method for its production, and isolation of the collagen from collagen-containing tissues, as well as the use of the isolated collagen in a biomatrix as an in vitro test system, tissue replacement or organ replacement. |
| US08013120B2 |
C-reactive protein and its use to treat systemic lupus erythematosus and related conditions
The present invention relates to the use of C-reactive protein, its mutants, metabolites and polypeptides and related compounds thereof for the treatment of various disease states and conditions associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including lupus of the skin (discoid), systemic lupus of the joints, lungs and kidneys, hematological conditions including hemolytic anemia and low lymphocyte counts, lymphadenopathy and CNS effects including memory loss, seizures and psychosis, among numerous others as otherwise disclosed herein, hi another aspect of the invention, the reduction in the likelihood that a patient who is at risk for an outbreak of a disease state or condition with systemic lupus erythematosus will have an outbreak is an additional aspect of the present invention. |
| US08013117B2 |
Solution-phase synthesis of leuprolide and its intermediates
A process for producing a nonapeptide leuprolide and an intermediate N-protected oligopetides, wherein at least one peptide bond of the compound is formed by reacting an activated carboxylic acid and an amine component in a continuous flow. |
| US08013113B2 |
FRET protease assays for clostridial toxins
The present invention provides clostridial toxin substrates useful in assaying for the protease activity of any clostridial toxin, including botulinum toxins of all serotypes as well as tetanus toxins. A clostridial toxin substrate of the invention contains a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence that includes a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor and where, under the appropriate conditions, resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor. |
| US08013109B2 |
Industrially viable method for the production of polycarbynes, polymeric precursors to diamond and diamond like ceramics
This invention is related to a new method of synthesizing polycarbynes. These polymers are known to produce diamond and diamond like ceramics upon heating, by plasma processing, and chemical vapour deposition.The method of synthesizing polycarbynes is characterized by, Placing trihaloalkanes (RCX3) or mixtures of them in any proportion, solvent (2) and electrolyte in a container (1), Application of electricity to electrodes (4) using a suitable power supply (3). |
| US08013108B2 |
Process for producing 2, 3, 3′, 4′,-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride
2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid is heat-dehydrated in a molten state at a temperature not lower than 200° C. in a flow of an inert gas in a reactor 10 having at least one reaction vessel 11 by stirring the molten material to produce 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride. Thus obtained 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride in the molten state is subsequently cooled and solidified in an inert gas or dry air, or cooled and solidified in the ambient air at a temperature of 40° C. or lower or 100° C. or higher. |
| US08013099B2 |
Use of phosphonic acid diesters and diphosphonic acid diesters and silane group containing, curable mixtures containing phosphonic acid diesters and diphosphonic acid diesters
Disclosed herein is a silane-functional mixture, comprising at least one phosphonic diester (A), at least one diphosphonic diester (A), or at least one phosphonic diester and one diphosphonic diester (A), and at least one compound (B) comprising at least two condensable silane groups. |
| US08013097B2 |
Silicone polyether block copolymers having organofunctional endblocking groups
Silicone polyether copolymers are disclosed having the average formula E-B-[AB]n-E where E is an organofunctional endblocking group, B is a diorganopolysiloxane, A is a divalent organic group comprising at least one polyether group, and n is ≧1. The silicone polyether copolymers having an amine functional endblocking group are useful in the treatment of textiles and fibers. |
| US08013095B2 |
Ru sulfoxide complexes, their preparation and use
Ru(0) complexes containing sulfoxide ligands and aliphatically unsaturated ligands are effective hydrosilylation catalysts useful in particular for addition curing organosilicon compositions. |
| US08013089B2 |
Fluoropolymer composition for lining adhesion to a surface
A composition of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(ethyl vinyl ether) copolymer particles and metal powder is disclosed that enables the composition to be used for adhering a lining to an interior surface of a hollow article. |
| US08013085B2 |
Method for the production of an aqueous polymer dispersion
Process for preparing an aqueous polymer dispersion by polymerizing at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer B in an aqueous medium in the presence of polymer particles A and at least one dispersant. |
| US08013084B2 |
Manufacturing method and apparatus of optical material
A manufacturing method of an optical material, the method including: blending an inorganic compound (a) containing at least one of a sulfur atom and a selenium atom and a compound (b) represented by a following formula (1) in a tank, the compound (a) and the compound (b) being blended at a ratio of 1 mass % or more and 50 mass % or less of the compound (a) and 50 mass % or more and 99 mass % or less of the compound (b) relative to a total mass of a mixture of the compound (a) and the compound (b); mixing a compound (c) containing at least one thiol (SH) group; preliminarily polymerizing the compounds; cooling the compounds; and deaerating the compounds, in which a viscosity of the composition stored in the tank is controlled during at least one of the preliminarily polymerizing, the cooling and the deaerating (m represents an integer of 0 to 4, and n represents an integer of 0 to 2). |
| US08013082B2 |
Processes for correlating UV-VIS spectra of norbornene compound to polymerization processes using the same, and related purification methods and compositions
The invention provides a process of polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin, said process comprises polymerizing the ethylene and the at least one α-olefin in the presence of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, which comprises low levels of impurities, as determined by the absorbances at the following wavelengths: 320 nm and 343 nm. The invention also provides a method of increasing the catalysts efficiency, and a method of determining the expected catalyst efficiency, each in a polymerization of ethylene and at least one α-olefin in the presence of the 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, which comprises low levels of impurities, as determined by the absorbances at the above wavelengths. The invention further provides a method of purifying 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene to form a purified 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, which comprises low levels of impurities, as determined by the absorbances of the above wavelengths. |
| US08013076B2 |
Aromatic polyketone and polysiloxane/polyimide block copolymer composition
A composition comprises a blend of an aromatic polyketone and a polysiloxane/polyimide block copolymer. The composition can further comprise one or more additives. |
| US08013060B2 |
Method for concentrating organic silicate polymer solution
The present invention relates to a method for concentrating organic silicate polymer solution, and more precisely, a method for concentrating organic silicate polymer solution by distillation which is characterized by remarkably reduced distillation time realized by the short-term continuous distillation at low temperature under low pressure, minimized physical property changes attributed to the inhibition of the heat-induced reaction by making the solution pass through the thin film evaporator shortly, concentration without cake generation, and easy manipulation with high capacity, making the method highly economical. |
| US08013059B2 |
Synthesis of hydroxylated polyorganosiloxanes by hydrolysis/condensation of halosilanes and apparatus therefor
A method for hydrolyzing/condensing, by acid catalysis, silanes bearing hydrolyzable groups, preferably halogenosilanes and more preferably still chlorosilanes, in a polyphase reaction medium (preferably biphasic), includes contacting the silanes bearing the hydrolyzable groups with water, buffer solution and neutralizing agent, while stirring, then in separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase, which contains the hydrolysis/condensation products, namely hydroxylated polyorganosiloxanes; such method is characterized by (a) employing intensively stirring means producing, in the reaction medium, an agitation at least equivalent to that induced by a shearing corresponding to that provided by a rotor whereof the peripheral speed is not less than 8 m.s−1, preferably not less than 10 m.s−1, and more preferably still ranging between 15 and 20 m.s−1, enabling thus organic phase droplets to be formed, of d32 less than 500 μm; and (b) ensuring that the silanes/aqueous phase mass fraction is not less than 0.05, preferably not less than 0.10, and more preferably still ranging from 0.5 to 2.0. |
| US08013056B2 |
White heat-curable silicone resin composition, optoelectronic part case, and molding method
A silicone resin composition comprising (A) a heat-curable organopolysiloxane having a melting point of 40-130° C., (B) a white pigment, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) a curing catalyst is transfer or compression moldable at elevated temperatures into a cured product having white color, heat resistance, light resistance and minimal yellowing. The cured product is suited as a case in which an optoelectronic part is enclosed. |
| US08013055B2 |
Aqueous organic-inorganic hybrid composition
Disclosed is an organic-inorganic hybrid composition containing a metal oxide (A) having a particle diameter of 1-400 nm and a polymer emulsion particle (B) having a particle diameter of 10-800 nm. The polymer emulsion particle (B) is obtained by polymerizing a hydrolysable silicon compound (b1) and a vinyl monomer (b2) having a secondary and/or tertiary amide group in the presence of water and an emulsifying agent. |
| US08013052B2 |
Curable resin, production method thereof, epoxy resin composition, and electronic device
A curable resin which exhibits excellent heat resistance while including an extremely smaller amount of volatile component is disclosed, and an electronic component device having excellent reliability in heat resistance and the like which contains the above curable resin is provided. A curable resin obtained in reaction of at least one compound (a) selected from the group consisting of the silane compounds represented by the following Formula (I-1) and the partial condensates thereof with a phenol compound (b), comprising a remaining volatile component in an amount of 10 wt % or less with respect to the total weight of the curable resin is used as a curing agent. [Formula 1] R1nSiR2(4-n) (I-1) (Wherein, n denotes a number of 0 to 2; R1 represent a hydrogen atom, or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R2 represent a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, substituted or unsubstituted oxy groups, amino groups, and carbonyloxy groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; and two or more of R1 and R2 may bind to each other to form a cyclic structure). |
| US08013051B2 |
Liquid composition, image forming method, cartridge, recording unit and ink jet recording apparatus
A liquid composition which can achieve superior scratch resistance of images at such a level that coloring materials are hardly scraped off even when images are scratched with finger nails under application of such strong pressure as to scratch a recording medium at its non-recorded areas. The liquid composition contains at least a modified siloxane compound having specific structure and a polymer whose acid value and hydrogen bond parameter (δh) are specified. |
| US08013048B2 |
Polymeric polyamines and method for stabilizing silver nanoparticle by employing the same
The present invention discloses a polymeric polyamine which can be produced by polymerizing polyoxyalkylene-amine and a linker. The linker can be anhydride, carboxylic acid, epoxy, isocyanate or poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymers (SMA). The present invention also discloses a method for stabilizing the Ag nanoparticles with polymeric polyamine. The polymeric polyamine serving as a stabilizer or dispersant is mixed with a water solution of silver salt and then a reducer is provided to reduce the silver ions and form an organic or a water solution of Ag nanoparticles. Water or solvent of this solution can be further removed through a heating, freezing or decompression process, and thus solid content of the solution can be increased. The concentrated solution also can be diluted to obtain a stable dispersion without aggregation. |
| US08013045B2 |
Monoazo colorants for mass-colouring of polymers
A process for mass-coloring high molecular weight material, in which process a compound of formula or a tautomer thereof, wherein M1 is H, ½ M2, ⅓ M3 or NR4R5R6R7, preferably H, ½ M2 or NR4R5R6R7, especially H, M2 is an alkaline earth or transition metal in oxidation state II or an oxo-metal in oxidation state IV, M3 is Al(III), a transition metal in oxidation state III or an oxo-metal in oxidation state V, R1 is H or a non-ionic substituent, R2 is H or, independently of R1, a further non-ionic substituent, R3 is H, C1-C6alkyl, phenyl, CO—C1-C6alkyl or CO-phenyl, preferably H or CO—C1-C6alkyl, especially H, and R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently of the others H or phenyl, benzyl or C1-C6alkyl, which are unsubstituted or may be substituted by hydroxy or by halogen and in the case of C3-C6alkyl is uninterrupted or interrupted by O, is incorporated into the high molecular weight material before or during shaping. The colorations obtained have good light stability and thermal stability, especially in polyolefins. |
| US08013043B2 |
Hazy polyester film with improved technology
A hazy polyester film with a thickness in the range from 10 to 100 μm including thermoplastic polyester as the main constituent and barium sulfate with a particle size in the range from 0.1 to 0.5 μm, expressed as d50, in an amount in the range from 5 to 25% by weight. The films exhibit a transparency, measured to ASTM-D 1003, of greater than 56% and a haze in the range from 40 to 95%. Owing to their particular optical properties in the form of high transparency with simultaneous scattering action in the form of volume scatter, the film is suitable particularly for use for internal and external window glazing, for interior paneling in bright rooms, for exhibition construction, in vehicles and buildings, in the lighting sector and in shopfitting and shelving. |
| US08013041B2 |
Cellulosic product
The invention relates to a cellulosic product containing thermoplastic microspheres and a charged aromatic acrylamide-based polymer. The invention further relates to a process for a process for producing a cellulosic product which comprises providing an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibers; adding to the suspension thermoplastic microspheres and a charged aromatic acrylamide-based polymer; and dewatering the obtained suspension. The invention also relates to the use of the cellulosic product as a liquid packaging board. |
| US08013040B2 |
Cellulose fiber-plastic composition containing a lubricant
This invention is directed to an extruded product, extrudable compound, and an extrusion method using a polymer, a cellulosic fiber, and at least one lubricant selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated esters of hydantoins, ethoxylated esters of sorbitol or sorbitan, or N, N′-bisalkanoylethylenediamines containing from 8 to 14 carbons of the alkanoyl group and compositions manufactured through such processes which simulate conventional wood products. The N,N′-bisalkanoylethylenediamines are new compositions of matter containing from 8 to 14 carbons of the alkanoyl group having a particle size range from about 90 to 150 μm, preferably from about 120 to 140 μm. |
| US08013030B2 |
Process for the production of a moulding composed of foamed polytetrafluoroethylene
A process for the production of a moulding composed of foamed polytetrafluoroethylene by means of an extruder, includes introducing a foaming agent, which brings about foaming, into the polytetrafluoro-ethylene, where the extruder used includes a commercially available extruder, to which a thermoplastically processable, fusible polytetrafluoroethylene is fed, the polytetrafluoroethylene is fed to the extruder together with a foaming agent which has chemical action and which has a decomposition temperature of at least 320° C., and after its discharge from the extruder, the moulding is drawn off in the direction of production without any further measures relating to the foaming procedure. |
| US08013028B2 |
Embedded recycled container sheet binder
An embedded recycled container sheet binder includes a front cover and a back cover, the front cover and the back cover being connected to one another for opening and closing, at least one of the front cover and the back cover being, at least in part, a plurality of flattened recycled containers embedded in a plastic base, and each of the plurality of flattened recycled containers being visibly recognizable. The plurality of flattened recycled containers is preferably embedded between a base substrate of plastic and a top layer of plastic. The base substrate is a recycled plastic base substrate selected from the group consisting of clear plastic, opaque plastic, colored plastic and combinations thereof. In some preferred embodiments, the embedded recycled container sheet binder the top layer is a recycled plastic selected from the group consisting of clear plastic, opaque plastic and combinations thereof. In some preferred embodiments, the embedded recycled container sheet binder the front cover and the back cover are connected by a spine. In some preferred embodiments, the embedded recycled container sheet binder at least one of the front cover and the back cover has at least one pocket connected to it. |
| US08013025B2 |
Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor
A method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in a plurality of vertically extending horizontally spaced slurry channels inside a common reactor shell, the slurry channels being defined between vertically extending horizontally spaced divider walls or plates and each slurry channel having a height, width and breadth such that the height and breadth are much larger than the width. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in the slurry channels, thereby to form non-gaseous and/or gaseous product. Gaseous product and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body. |
| US08013023B2 |
Charged emulsions for site-specific deposition of matter at micro and nano scale
An emulsion including a continuous phase, a discontinuous phase which is immiscible in the continuous phase, and optionally a surfactant, the surfactant has a first part which is compatible with the continuous phase and a second part which is compatible with the discontinuous phase. The continuous phase has a high volume resistivity and the discontinuous phase is electrically charged. The discontinuous phase can be a reagent, a solvent which carries an active chemical reagent or a carrier liquid for a solid or insoluble liquid dispersed in the discontinuous phase. The surfactant, if present, is selected to not significantly reduce the volume resistivity of the continuous phase. The emulsion can also include a charge control agent. The emulsions can be used for the electrostatically controlled placement of matter in a spatially defined manner from the discontinuous phase for combinatorial chemistry and micrometer and nanometer scale deposition with or without reaction. |
| US08013021B2 |
Hydrocarbon-terminated polyether-polyamide block copolymer and uses thereof
A composition comprising (a) a resin composition comprising a block copolymer of the formula hydrocarbon-polyether-polyamide-polyether-hydrocarbon; and (b) a polar liquid. The block copolymer may be prepared by a process comprising reacting together reactants comprising dimer acid, diamine, and a polyether having termination at one end selected from amine, hydroxyl and carboxyl, and termination at another end selected from hydrocarbons. The polar liquid may be one or more of an aromatic liquid, a polar aprotic liquid, a ketone-containing liquid, an ester-containing liquid, an ether-containing liquid, an amide-containing liquid and a sulfoxide-containing liquid. The composition may be a gel at room temperature. |
| US08013017B2 |
Dermatological compositions and methods
Dermatological compositions (methods of making and using) that include one or more anesthetic agents and/or one or more anti-inflammatory agents and/or a combination of ammonium, sodium, and potassium salts, preferably of an alpha-hydroxy acid. |
| US08013010B2 |
5-thioxylopyranose compounds
Compounds of 5-thioxylopyranose, preferably derivatives of the 5-thioxilopyranose type, a method for preparing such compounds, and the use of such compounds as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions which are useful, in particular, for treating or inhibiting thrombosis or heart failure or thromboembolic disease states. |
| US08013009B2 |
Methods of diagnosing infertility by detecting PMCA4 mutations
The invention relates to the use of plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) inhibitors for inhibiting sperm mobility to achieve a contraceptive effect. The invention further relates to contraceptive agents comprising one or more PMCA inhibitors. |
| US08013008B2 |
Cyclic amine compound
A compound represented by the formula (I) each symbol of which is defined in the specification, or a salt thereof which has a superior androgen receptor regulating activity. |
| US08013001B2 |
Modulators of LXR
Compounds of the invention, such as compounds of formula (I): where n, m, A, B, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined herein, are useful as modulators of the activity of liver X receptors. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of using the compounds are also disclosed. |
| US08012999B2 |
Modulators of CFTR
Compounds of the present invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention. |
| US08012996B2 |
Methods and composition for inhibition of angiogenesis
The present invention comprises a group of compounds that effectively inhibit angiogenesis. More specifically, thalidomide and various related compounds such as EM-12 and its derivatives have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and to treat disease states resulting from angiogenesis. Importantly, these compounds can be administered orally. |
| US08012990B2 |
Methods of converting a patient's treatment regimen from intravenous administration of an opioid to oral co-administration of morphine and oxycodone using a dosing algorithm to provide analgesia
A method of converting a treatment for pain comprising intravenous administration of opioids, to a treatment for pain comprising oral administration of a first dose of an immediate release morphine-oxycodone combination in patients in need of analgesia. The method may comprise (1) determining a four-hour average oral morphine equivalents or determining a net average hourly intravenous dose, and (2) orally administering to the patient a first dose of a morphine-oxycodone combination in a 3:2 ratio by weight every four to six hours. Also, a method of treating pain in patients who had been administered opioids intravenously, comprising using a dosing algorithm to determine the first dose of the immediate release morphine-oxycodone combination. |
| US08012986B2 |
Pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives as MGLUR2 antagonists
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein A, B, Q, X, Y, R1, and R2 are as defined herein; pharmaceutical compositions containing them; a process for their manufacture; and methods for treating CNS disorders with the same. |
| US08012984B2 |
Substituted pyrazinone melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 antagonists and methods
The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R8, and R9 are defined herein. Additionally, the present application provides pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to Formula I and optionally at least one additional therapeutic agent. Finally, the present application provides methods for treating a patient suffering from an MCHR-1 modulated disease or disorder such as, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression or anxiety by administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a compound according to Formula I. |
| US08012982B2 |
Modulators of HCV replication
The present invention is directed to compounds of formula (I): where X, Y, R1, R2 and R3 are defined therein, which can act as modulators of viral replication and/or virus production, especially of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). |
| US08012980B2 |
Isoquinolinone derivatives
The present invention relates to isoquinolinone derivatives of formula (I): wherein are as herein defined; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. |
| US08012979B2 |
Compounds and their uses 707
The present invention relates to isoquinolinone derivatives of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as herein defined; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. |
| US08012975B2 |
Antitumoral analogs of ET-743
Antitumor compounds have the five membered fused ring ecteinascidin structure of the formula (XIV). The present compounds lack a 1,4-bridging group as found in the ecteinascidins. They have at the C-1 position a substituent selected from an optionally protected or derivatised aminomethylene group or an optionally protected or derivatised hydroxymethylene group. |
| US08012973B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of auricular fibrillation
Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists are useful for the preparation of medicaments against atrial fibrillation in mammals, including humans. It has been found that the adenosine A2A receptor is present in human atrial cardiomyocytes and participates in the pathological mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation. An advantage of using A2A antagonists over other agents known in the art is that the A2A antagonists specifically target patients with atrial fibrillation. |
| US08012969B2 |
11C-labeled benzyl-lactam compounds and their use as imaging agents
The invention relates to “C-labeled compounds, their preparation, compositions comprising an effective amount of a “C-labeled compound, and the use of a “C-labeled compound as a radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography. |
| US08012968B2 |
Quinolone based compounds exhibiting prolyl hydroxylase inhibitory activity, and compositions, and uses thereof
This invention relates to new quinolone based compounds that exhibit prolyl hydroxylase inhibitory activity. This invention also relates to methods of increasing HIF levels or activity in a subject or treating a condition associated with HIF levels or activity in a subject by administering to the subject at least one quinolone based compound. This invention further involves assays for the detection of a hydroxyproline residue in a HIF molecule. |
| US08012966B2 |
Pyrrolo [3,2-c] pyridine-4-one 2-indolinone protein kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine-4-one 2-indolinone compounds of Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8X, Y and have the meaning cited in the specification. Also disclosed are the pharmaceutical compositions containing the foregoing compounds, methods for the preparation and pharmaceutical use thereof, particularly as protein kinase inhibitors. Formula (I). |
| US08012965B2 |
Bridged bicyclic aryl and bridged bicyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles useful as axl inhibitors
Bridged bicyclic aryl or heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed. |
| US08012963B2 |
3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[1,4]oxazine and thiazine derivatives as CETP inhibitors
The invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I) described herein useful as CETP inhibitors, compositions containing them, and methods of using them. |
| US08012958B2 |
Methods for treating anxiety related disorders
The present invention relates to methods of and compositions for treating and relieving symptoms and disease associated with indications caused by a physiological drive to alleviate a sensation of anxiety. In one treatment method, methods of, and compositions for, modulating the expression of certain GABAA receptor subunits are used to treat anxiety-related disorders and depressive disorders associated with physiological tolerance to endogenous neurosteroids. |
| US08012957B2 |
Tetrahydro-1H-1,2,6-triaza-azulene cannabinoid modulators
This invention is directed to a tetrahydro-1H-1,2,6-triaza-azulene cannabinoid modulator compound of formula (I): and a method for use in treating, ameliorating or preventing a cannabinoid receptor mediated syndrome, disorder or disease. |
| US08012953B2 |
Macrocyclic beta-secretase inhibitors
Disclosed are novel compounds of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, n and X are as defined in the specification. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I. Also disclosed are methods of treating cognitive or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Also disclosed are methods of treating a cognitive or neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to a patient I need of such treatment a combination of at least one compound of formula I and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of β-secretase inhibitors other than those of formula I, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, gamma-secretase inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, cholinesterase inhibitors and anti-amyloid antibodies. |
| US08012944B2 |
Method for treating cancer using IAP antisense oligomer and chemotherapeutic agent
The invention features methods, compositions, and kits for treating a patient having a proliferative disease. |
| US08012942B2 |
Carba-nucleoside analogs for antiviral treatment
Provided are thieno[3,4-d]pyrimidin-7-yl and furo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-7-yl ribosides, riboside phosphates and prodrugs thereof as well as intermediates and methods of preparation. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are useful for the treatment of Flaviviridae virus infections. |
| US08012941B2 |
Carba-nucleoside analogs for antiviral treatment
Provided are imidazo[1,5-f][1,2,4]triazinyl, imidazo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazinyl, and [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-f][1,2,4]triazinyl nucleosides, nucleoside phosphates and prodrugs thereof. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are useful for the treatment of Flaviviridae virus infections, particularly hepatitis C infections. |
| US08012940B2 |
Utilization of anti-neuropathic pain effect of D-allose and D-psicose
To control neuropathic pain produced by various mechanisms. Disclosed is a composition for elimination, relief or reduction of neuropathic pain comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one substance selected from the group consisting of D-allose, a derivative of D-allose, D-psicose and a derivative of D-psicose preferably in an amount of 0.01 to 90% by weight. The composition may comprise a mixture of D-allose and/or a derivative thereof and D-psicose and/or a derivative thereof at a ratio of 1:1 to 10:1. The neuropathic pain may be one induced by a disease selected from the group consisting of trigeminal neuralgia, postoperative pain, periodontitis, gingivitis, gingivostomatitis, oral ulcer, herpes zoster, postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuritis, causalgia, phantom limb pain and malignant tumor. Also disclosed is use of the composition for elimination, relief or reduction of neuropathic pain by administering the composition to a patient with neuropathic pain in such an amount that 0.01 to 100 g of the at least one substance can be taken by the patient per day. |
| US08012937B2 |
Nucleic acid and corresponding protein entitled 98P4B6 useful in treatment and detection of cancer
A novel gene 098P4B6 (also designated STEAP-2) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 98P4B6 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 98P4B6 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 98P4B6 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 98P4B6 can be used in active or passive immunization. |
| US08012929B2 |
Peptides directed for diagnosis and treatment of amyloid-associated diseases
Peptides having at least 2 amino acids and no more than 15 amino acids are provided. The peptides comprise amino acid sequence X-Y or Y-X, wherein X is an aromatic amino acid and Y is any amino acid other than glycine. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and kits including such peptides as well as methods using same for diagnosing and treating amyloid associated diseases. |
| US08012928B2 |
Truncated PAP2 and methods of making and using same
A method of treating pancreatitis is provided, including the steps of: providing a mammal having pancreatitis; and administering a therapeutically effective amount of a truncated N-terminal PAP2; and making of an antibody specifically directed to detect PAP2. |
| US08012922B2 |
Wet cleaning solution
A wet cleaning solution, comprising 0.01-3 wt % of an amphoteric imidazolium surfactant capable of forming a complex with metal ions, a pH adjuster, and balanced deionized water. The wet cleaning solution is substantially free of corrosion inhibitor other than the imidazolium amphoteric surfactant. |
| US08012919B2 |
Oil composition for lubricating an EGR equipped diesel engine and an EGR equipped diesel engine comprising same
The present invention is directed to a lubricating oil composition, a diesel engine comprising a lubricating oil composition, and a method of lubricating a diesel engine provided with an exhaust gas recirculation system, comprising lubricating said engine with a lubricating oil composition comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity, and a polymeric N-dispersant booster comprising monomer units of: a) 0 to 40 wt. % of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (I) wherein R is equal to H or CH3, R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 independently represent H or a group of the formula —COOR′, wherein R′ is H or an alkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, b) 10 to 98 wt. % of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (II) wherein R is equal to H or CH3, R4 represents a linear or branched alkyl group with 6 to 15 carbon atoms, R5 and R6 independently represent H or a group of the formula —COOR″, wherein R″ is H or an alkyl group with 6 to 15 carbon atoms, c) 0 to 30 wt. % of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (III) wherein R is equal to H or CH3, R7 represents a linear or branched alkyl group with 16 to 30 carbon atoms, R8 and R9 independently represent H or a group of the formula —COOR′″, wherein R′″ is H or an alkyl group with 16 to 30 carbon atoms, d) 0 to 30 wt. % vinyl monomers, e) 7 to 25 wt. % of at least one N— dispersant monomer, wherein a)-e) add up to 100 wt. %. |
| US08012918B2 |
Detergent
An overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent having a basicity index of less than 2 and a degree of carbonation of 80% or greater is disclosed. The overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent reduces asphaltene precipitation or ‘black paint’ in a marine diesel engine. |
| US08012916B2 |
Phosphorus-molybdenum compound, method for producing same and lubricant additive and lubricant composition containing the compound
A lubricating oil additive capable of providing an antioxidant which enables a lubricating oil composition to have long drain intervals, while reducing specific components such as metals and phosphorus atoms, and a lubricating oil composition containing the lubricating oil additive are provided. A phosphorus molybdenum compound represented by the following general formula (1) where R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms is also provided. |
| US08012913B2 |
Diamine terminated primary amine-aldehyde sulfur converting compositions and methods for making and using same
A new class of sulfur scavenging or converting compositions is disclosed comprising diamine terminated, amine-aldehyde adducts, where the adducts are substantially bimolecular amine-aldehyde adducts and the composition is substantially free of trimer and/or triazines. Methods for making and using the new class of sulfur scavenging or converting composition are also disclosed. |
| US08012901B1 |
Method of synthesizing enantiopure mexiletine analogues and novel β-thiophenoxy and pyridyl ethers
A practical and efficient procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of mexiletine analogues using 10% of a novel spiroborate ester as chirality transfer agent is presented. A variety of mexiletine analogues were prepared with excellent enantioselectivities (91-97% ee) in good yield from readily available starting materials. The developed methodology was also successfully applied for the synthesis of novel β-amino ethers containing thiophenyl and pyridyl fragments. |
| US08012898B2 |
Ceramic with improved high temperature electrical properties for use as a spark plug insulator
An insulator including alumina in an amount between about 90 and about 99% by weight and an oxide mixture or glass mixture including Boron Oxide, Phosphorus Oxide, or both Boron and Phosphorus Oxide. |
| US08012896B2 |
Optical glass, preform for precision press molding, method for manufacturing preform for precision press molding, optical element, and method for manufacturing optical element
The present invention relates to an optical glass having optical constants in the form of a refractive index nd of 1.70 or higher and an Abbé number nud of 50 or higher, a preform for precision press molding comprised of this glass, an optical element comprised of this glass, and methods for manufacturing the preform and the optical element. |
| US08012893B1 |
Stretchable appliqué
An appliqué is described that includes a woven fabric that is stretchable in a single direction. |
| US08012892B2 |
Composite resin molded product and method for molding the same
A composite resin molded product has a molded product body made of a resin and a fiber sheet material inserted on the surface of the molded product body. The fiber sheet material is formed of a knitted fabric, and the rear surface of the knitted fabric faces the molded product. The surfaces of fiber yarns of the knitted fabric are integrated with the molded product body by melting and solidifying. |
| US08012886B2 |
Leadframe treatment for enhancing adhesion of encapsulant thereto
A method is provided for treating a leadframe comprising copper or copper alloy to enhance adhesion of molding compound to it. The leadframe is oxidized in an oxidation treatment bath to form copper oxide on the surface of the leadframe. It is then dipped in a complexing or chelating agent to enhance the purity of the copper oxide formed. Thereafter, the leadframe is cleaned with an acid to remove any contaminants remaining on the leadframe. |
| US08012881B1 |
Method for forming contact holes in semiconductor device
A method for forming contact holes in a semiconductor device includes forming a hard mask layer over an etch target layer, forming a first line pattern in the hard mask layer by etching a portion of the hard mask layer through a primary etch process, forming a second line pattern crossing the first line pattern by etching the hard mask layer including the first line pattern through a secondary etch process, and etching the etch target layer by using the hard mask layer including the first line pattern and the second line pattern as an etch barrier. |
| US08012877B2 |
Backside nitride removal to reduce streak defects
Exemplary embodiments provide a method for fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) device with reduced streak defects. In one embodiment, the IC device structure can be formed having a first pad oxide-based layer on a front side of a semiconductor substrate and having an oxide-nitride-based structure on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The IC device structure can be etched to remove a nitride-related material from the backside oxide-nitride-based structure, and further to remove the first pad oxide-based layer from the front side of the semiconductor substrate. On the removed front side of the semiconductor substrate a second pad oxide-based layer can be formed, e.g., for forming an isolation structure for device component or circuitry isolation. |
| US08012868B1 |
Semiconductor device having EMI shielding and method therefor
A semiconductor device has a substrate having a plurality of metal layers. A die coupled to the substrate. A first wire fence structure is formed on the substrate. A second wire fence structure is formed on the substrate. A mold compound is used for encapsulating the die, a first surface of the substrate, the first wire fence structure, and the second wire fence structure, wherein a top portion of at least one of the first wire fence structure or the second wire fence structure is exposed. A conductive coating is applied to the mold compound and to the portion of the at least one of the first wire fence structure or the second wire fence structure is exposed. |
| US08012866B2 |
Method of bonding semiconductor devices utilizing solder balls
A method for bonding a semiconductor device onto a substrate is provided which comprises the steps of picking up a solder ball with a pick head, placing the solder ball onto the substrate and melting the solder ball on the substrate and placing the semiconductor device on the molten solder ball. The molten solder ball is then allowed to cool to form a solder joint which bonds the semiconductor device to the substrate. |
| US08012863B2 |
Transistors with gate stacks having metal electrodes
A transistor with a gate stack having a metal electrode and a method for forming the same. The method includes providing a structure which includes (a) a substrate, (b) a gate dielectric layer on the substrate, and (c) a gate layer on the gate dielectric layer. The gate layer includes an oxidized layer. The oxidized layer comprises an oxidized material. Then, the structure is exposed to a first plasma resulting in removal of oxygen atoms from molecules of the oxidized material. |
| US08012855B2 |
Method and structure for fabricating multiple tiled regions onto a plate using a controlled cleaving process
A reusable transfer substrate member for forming a tiled substrate structure. The member including a transfer substrate, which has a surface region. The surface region comprises a plurality of donor substrate regions. Each of the donor substrate regions is characterized by a donor substrate thickness and a donor substrate surface region. Each of the donor substrate regions is spatially disposed overlying the surface region of the transfer substrate. Each of the donor substrate regions has the donor substrate thickness without a definable cleave region. |
| US08012847B2 |
Methods of forming trench isolation in the fabrication of integrated circuitry and methods of fabricating integrated circuitry
First and second isolation trenches are formed into semiconductive material of a semiconductor substrate. The first isolation trench has a narrowest outermost cross sectional dimension which is less than that of the second isolation trench. An insulative layer is deposited to within the first and second isolation trenches effective to fill remaining volume of the first isolation trench within the semiconductive material but not that of the second isolation trench within the semiconductive material. The insulative layer comprises silicon dioxide deposited from flowing TEOS to the first and second isolation trenches. A spin-on-dielectric is deposited over the silicon dioxide deposited from flowing the TEOS within the second isolation trench within the semiconductive material, but not within the first isolation trench within the semiconductive material. The spin-on-dielectric is deposited effective to fill remaining volume of the second isolation trench within the semiconductive material. The spin-on-dielectric is densified within the second isolation trench. |
| US08012846B2 |
Isolation structures and methods of fabricating isolation structures
A method of forming an isolation structure includes the steps of: (a) forming an opening within a substrate; (b) forming a substantially conformal layer comprising tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) layer along the opening; and (c) forming a dielectric layer over the TEOS layer, the dielectric layer substantially filling the opening. |
| US08012842B2 |
Method for fabricating isolated integrated semiconductor structures
An integrated semiconductor structure that has first and second bipolar transistor structures. The first bipolar transistor structure has a doped tank region in contact with a doped tank region located underneath a contacting sinker. The second bipolar transistor structure has a doped buried region that is the same dopant type as its doped tank region. A method for fabricating an integrated semiconductor structure in a bulk semiconductor wafer. A first patterned photomask is used to form a doped buried region and a doped tank region within the first bipolar transistor structure. A second patterned photomask is used to form a doped buried region and a doped tank region within the second bipolar transistor, plus a doped buried region and a doped tank region underneath a contacting sinker adjacent to the first bipolar transistor. |
| US08012840B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a side wall spacer formed on the side surface of a gate electrode formed on the upper side of a semiconductor substrate with a gate insulation film therebetween, extension regions built up on the semiconductor substrate, and source/drain regions formed on the extension regions, wherein a first epitaxial layer is formed so as to fill up portions, cut out at the time of forming the side wall spacer, of the semiconductor substrate, and the extension regions are formed on the first epitaxial layer from a second epitaxial layer of a conduction type opposite to that of the first epitaxial layer. |
| US08012839B2 |
Method for fabricating a semiconductor device having an epitaxial channel and transistor having same
A transistor having an epitaxial channel and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having an epitaxial channel, the method including forming a hardmask on a substrate and forming an opening in the hardmask. The opening is geometrically characterized by a long dimension and a short dimension, and the opening is arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the channel region of a transistor. An epitaxial material is formed in the opening that induces strain in substrate regions proximate to the epitaxial material. The epitaxial material is confined to the opening, such that an epitaxial channel is formed. A transistor is fabricated in proximity to the epitaxial channel, such that the strain induced in the substrate provides enhanced transistor performance. By confining the epitaxial material to a predefined channel in the substrate, plastic strain relaxation of the epitaxial material is minimized and a maximum amount of strain is induced in the substrate. |
| US08012837B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of realizing a high yield of a large-scale semiconductor device even when a silicon carbide semiconductor including a defect is used is provided. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: a step of epitaxially growing a silicon carbide semiconductor layer on a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate; a step of polishing a surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor layer; a step of ion-implanting impurities into the silicon carbide semiconductor layer after the step of polishing; a step of performing heat treatment to activate the impurities; a step of forming a first thermal oxide film on the surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor layer after the step of performing heat treatment; a step of chemically removing the first thermal oxide film; and a step of forming an electrode layer on the silicon carbide semiconductor film. |
| US08012833B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an insulating pattern over a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial growth layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate exposed by the insulating pattern to fill the insulating pattern with the epitaxial growth layer. A recess gate having a recess channel is formed. The recess channel is disposed between two neighboring insulating patterns. |
| US08012832B2 |
Process for manufacturing a multi-drain electronic power device integrated in semiconductor substrate and corresponding device
A process manufactures a multi-drain power electronic device integrated on a semiconductor substrate of a first type of conductivity whereon a drain semiconductor layer is formed. The process includes: forming a first semiconductor epitaxial layer of the first type of conductivity of a first value of resistivity forming the drain epitaxial layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming first sub-regions of a second type of conductivity by a first selective implant step with a first implant dose, forming second sub-regions of the first type of conductivity by a second implant step with a second implant dose, and forming a surface semiconductor layer. The process also includes forming body regions of the second type of conductivity aligned with the first sub-regions, and carrying out a thermal diffusion process so that the first sub-regions form a single electrically continuous column region aligned and in electric contact with the body regions. |
| US08012827B2 |
Method for fabricating a dual workfunction semiconductor device and the device made thereof
A method for manufacturing a dual workfunction semiconductor device and the device made thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes manufacturing a first transistor in a first region and a second transistor in a second region of a substrate, the first transistor including a first gate stack, the first gate stack having a first gate dielectric capping layer and a first metal gate electrode layer. The second gate stack is similar to the first gate stack. The method includes applying a first thermal budget to the first gate dielectric capping layer and a second thermal budget to the second gate dielectric capping material to tune the workfunction of the first and second gate stack, the first thermal budget being smaller than the second thermal budget such that after the thermal treatment the first and the second gate stack have different work functions. |
| US08012824B2 |
Process to make high-K transistor dielectrics
A method of reducing impurities in a high-k dielectric layer comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided. A high-k dielectric layer having impurities is formed over the substrate. The high-k dielectric layer being formed by an MOCVD or an ALCVD process. The high-k dielectric layer is annealed to reduce the impurities within the high-k dielectric layer. |
| US08012822B2 |
Process for forming dielectric films
A process for forming dielectric films containing at least metal atoms, silicon atoms, and oxygen atoms on a silicon substrate comprises a first step of oxidizing a surface portion of the silicon substrate to form a silicon dioxide film; a second step of forming a metal film on the silicon dioxide film in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; a third step of heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to diffuse the metal atoms constituting the metal film into the silicon dioxide film; and a fourth step of oxidizing the silicon dioxide film containing the diffused metal atoms to form the film containing the metal atoms, silicon atoms, and oxygen atoms. |
| US08012821B2 |
Semiconductor embedded resistor generation
Generating an embedded resistor in a semiconductor device includes forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in a substrate; forming a pad oxide on the STI region and substrate; depositing a silicon layer on the pad oxide; forming a photo-resist mask on a portion of the silicon layer disposed above the STI region; etching the silicon layer to yield a polyconductor above the STI region; oxidizing the polyconductor; depositing an oxide material or a metal gate material on the oxidized surface; depositing a silicon layer on the oxide material or metal gate material; depositing additional silicon on a portion of the silicon layer above the STI region; patterning a transistor gate with a photo-resist mask on another portion of the silicon layer away from the STI region; and etching the silicon layer to yield a transistor structure away from the STI region and a resistor structure above the STI region. |
| US08012820B2 |
Ultra-thin SOI CMOS with raised epitaxial source and drain and embedded SiGe PFET extension
A method for improving channel carrier mobility in ultra-thin Silicon-on-oxide (UTSOI) FET devices by integrating an embedded pFET SiGe extension with raised source/drain regions. The method includes selectively growing embedded SiGe (eSiGe) extensions in pFET regions and forming strain-free raised Si or SiGe source/drain (RSD) regions on CMOS. The eSiGe extension regions enhance hole mobility in the pFET channels and reduce resistance in the pFET extensions. The strain-free raised source/drain regions reduce contact resistance in both UTSOI pFETs and nFETs. |
| US08012819B2 |
Semiconductor device including gate stack formed on inclined surface and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate having an inclined surface, a first upper surface extending from a lower portion of the inclined surface, and a second upper surface extending from an upper end of the inclined surface. A gate stack structure is formed on the inclined surface and includes a gate electrode. A first impurity region formed on one of the first and second upper surfaces contacts the gate stack structure. A second impurity region formed on the second upper surface contacts the gate stack structure. A channel between the first and second impurity regions is formed along the inclined surface in a crystalline direction. |
| US08012817B2 |
Transistor performance improving method with metal gate
The present disclosure provides a method for making a semiconductor device having metal gate stacks. The method includes forming a high k dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first metal layer on the high k dielectric material layer; forming a silicon layer on the first metal layer; patterning the silicon layer, the first metal layer and the high k dielectric material layer to form a gate stack; and performing a silicidation process to fully change the silicon layer into a silicide electrode. |
| US08012816B2 |
Double pass formation of a deep quantum well in enhancement mode III-V devices
A quantum well is formed for a deep well III-V semiconductor device using double pass patterning. In one example, the well is formed by forming a first photolithography pattern over terminals on a material stack, etching a well between the terminals using the first photolithography patterning, removing the first photolithography pattern, forming a second photolithography pattern over the terminals and at least a portion of the well, deepening the well between the terminals by etching using the second photolithography pattern, removing the second photolithography pattern, and finishing the terminals and the well to form a device on the material stack. |
| US08012814B2 |
Method of forming a high performance fet and a high voltage fet on a SOI substrate
A first portion of a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is protected, while a second portion of the top semiconductor layer is removed to expose a buried insulator layer. A first field effect transistor including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode located over the first portion of the top semiconductor layer is formed. A portion of the exposed buried insulator layer is employed as a gate dielectric for a second field effect transistor. In one embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is a remaining portion of the top semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is formed concurrently with the gate electrode of the first field effect transistor by deposition and patterning of a gate electrode layer. |
| US08012813B2 |
Display substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A three mask process for forming an LCD substrate includes, depositing in sequence on a base substrate a gate metallic layer, a gate insulation layer and a channel layer. A first photoresist pattern is used to form a gate electrode of a switching device, a channel pattern and a gate line on the gate electrode. A transparent conductive layer and a source metallic layer are deposited in sequence on the base substrate having the channel pattern. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the switching device, a pixel electrode and a source line electronically connected to the drain electrode, are formed by a second photoresist pattern. A first protective insulation layer is formed, and the first protective insulation layer on the pixel electrode is removed by a third photoresist pattern. Therefore, by the three masks process yields a simplified manufacturing process in which the lower portion of the source metallic pattern is not formed and display quality is improved. |
| US08012811B2 |
Methods of forming features in integrated circuits
A feature is formed in an integrated circuit by providing one or more layers to be patterned, providing a first layer overlying the one or more layers to be patterned, and providing a second layer overlying the first layer. The second layer is patterned to form a raised feature with one or more sidewalls. Subsequently, the first layer is processed such that components of the first layer deposit on the one or more sidewalls of the raised feature to form a mask. The mask is used to pattern the one or more layers to be patterned. |
| US08012810B2 |
Low parasitic capacitance bit line process for stack DRAM
A method of manufacturing low parasitic capacitance bit line for stack DRAM, comprising the following steps: offering a semi-conductor base, which semi-conductor having already included an oxide, plural word line stacks, plural bit line stacks and plural polysilicons; applying a multi layer resist coat; removing the multi layer resist coat and further removing parts of the oxide located on the polysilicon to form contact holes exposing the plural polysilicons; depositing an oxide layer; etching the oxide layer to form the oxide layer spacer; depositing a polysilicon layer; performing lithography and etching on the polysilicon layer thereby allowing the rest of the polysilicon layer that is column-shaped to form capacitor contacts; and using another oxide to fill into the space among the word line stacks and the capacitor contacts. |
| US08012806B2 |
Multi-directional trenching of a die in manufacturing superjunction devices
A method of manufacturing a superjunction device includes providing a semiconductor wafer having at least one die. At least one first trench having a first orientation is formed in the at least one die. At least one second trench having a second orientation that is different from the first orientation is formed in the at least one die. |
| US08012804B1 |
Method and system for mounting lasers on energy assisted magnetic recording heads
A method and system for providing energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) heads including EAMR transducers are described. The method and system include aligning a laser bar to the EAMR heads on a substrate. The laser bar includes lasers in locations corresponding to a portion of the EAMR transducers. The method and system also include bonding the laser bar to the substrate and removing a portion of the laser bar to separate the plurality of lasers. The substrate is separated into the EAMR heads. |
| US08012801B2 |
Flip chip mounting process and flip chip assembly
A flip chip mounting process includes the steps of supplying a resin (13) containing solder powder and a convection additive (12) onto a wiring substrate (10) having a plurality of electrode terminals (II), then bringing a semiconductor chip (20) having a plurality of connecting terminals (11) into contact with a surface of the supplied resin (13), and then heating the wiring substrate (10) to a temperature that enables the solder powder to melt. The heating step is carried out at a temperature that is higher than the boiling point of the convection additive (12) to allow the boiling convection additive (12) to move within the resin (12). During this heating step, the melted solder powder is allowed to self-assemble into the region between each electrode terminal (11) of the wiring substrate (10) and each connecting terminal (21) of the semiconductor chip to form an electrical connection between each electrode terminal (11) and each connecting terminal (21). |
| US08012797B2 |
Method for forming stackable semiconductor device packages including openings with conductive bumps of specified geometries
In one embodiment, a manufacturing method includes: (1) applying a first electrically conductive material to an upper surface of a substrate to form first conductive bumps; (2) electrically connecting a semiconductor device to the upper surface of the substrate; (3) applying a molding material to form a molded structure covering the first conductive bumps and the semiconductor device, upper ends of the first conductive bumps being recessed below an upper surface of the molded structure; (4) forming openings adjacent to the upper surface of the molded structure, the openings exposing the upper ends of the first conductive bumps; (5) applying, through the openings, a second electrically conductive material to form second conductive bumps; and (6) forming cutting slits extending through the molded structure and the substrate. |
| US08012796B2 |
Apparatus and methods for constructing semiconductor chip packages with silicon space transformer carriers
Apparatus and methods are provided for high density packaging of semiconductor chips using silicon space transformer chip level package structures, which allow high density chip interconnection and/or integration of multiple chips or chip stacks high I/O interconnection and heterogeneous chip or function integration. |
| US08012794B2 |
Capping layers for metal oxynitride TFTS
A capping layer may be deposited over the active channel of a thin film transistor (TFT) in order to protect the active channel from contamination. The capping layer may affect the performance of the TFT. If the capping layer contains too much hydrogen, nitrogen, or oxygen, the threshold voltage, sub threshold slope, and mobility of the TFT may be negatively impacted. By controlling the ratio of the flow rates of the nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen containing gases, the performance of the TFT may be optimized. Additionally, the power density, capping layer deposition pressure, and the temperature may also be controlled to optimize the TFT performance. |
| US08012793B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cell comprising a chalcogenide and a transition metal oxide
A memory cell for use in integrated circuits comprises a chalcogenide feature and a transition metal oxide feature. Both the chalcogenide feature and transition metal oxide feature each have at least two stable electrical resistance states. At least two bits of data can be concurrently stored in the memory cell by placing the chalcogenide feature into one of its stable electrical resistance states and by placing the transition metal oxide feature into one of its stable electrical resistance states. |
| US08012790B2 |
Chemical mechanical polishing stop layer for fully amorphous phase change memory pore cell
A method for fabricating a phase change memory pore cell that includes forming a bottom electrode, forming a first dielectric layer on the bottom electrode, forming a sacrificial layer on the first dielectric layer, forming an isolation layer on the sacrificial layer, and forming a second dielectric layer on the isolation layer. The method further includes forming a via overlying the bottom electrode, the via extending to the sacrificial layer, etching through the sacrificial layer to the first dielectric layer to form a pore defined extending through the sacrificial layer and the first dielectric layer, depositing phase change material on the sacrificial layer and into the pore and removing the phase change material formed outside the pore, removing the sacrificial layer to expose the pore, the pore being vertically aligned, and forming a top electrode over the pore. |
| US08012789B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile memory device, including a lower electrode on a semiconductor substrate, a phase change material pattern on the lower electrode, an adhesion pattern on the phase change material pattern and an upper electrode on the adhesion pattern, wherein the adhesion pattern includes a conductor including nitrogen. |
| US08012787B2 |
Photovoltaic device and manufacturing method thereof
The manufacturing method includes: forming a P-type silicon substrate and a high-concentration N-type diffusion layer, in which an N-type impurity is diffused in a first concentration, on an entire surface at a light-incident surface side; forming an etching resistance film on the high-concentration N-type diffusion layer and forming fine pores at a predetermined position within a recess forming regions on the etching resistance film; forming recesses by etching the silicon substrate around a forming position of the fine pores, so as not to leave the high-concentration N-type diffusion layer within the recess forming region; forming the low-concentration N-type diffusion layer, in which an N-type impurity is diffused in a second concentration that is lower than the first concentration, on a surface on which the recesses are formed; and forming a grid electrode in an electrode forming region at a light-incident surface side of the silicon substrate. |
| US08012782B2 |
Method for producing display device
In a liquid crystal display device, a first substrate includes electrical wirings and a semiconductor integrated circuit which has TFTs and is connected electrically to the electrical wirings, and a second substrate includes a transparent conductive film on a surface thereof. A surface of the first substrate that the electrical wirings are formed is opposite to the transparent conductive film on the second substrate. the semiconductor integrated circuit has substantially the same length as one side of a display screen (i.e., a matrix circuit) of the display device and is obtained by peeling it from another substrate and then forming it on the first substrate. Also, in a liquid crystal display device, a first substrate includes a matrix circuit and a peripheral driver circuit, and a second substrate is opposite to the first substrate, includes a matrix circuit and a peripheral driver circuit and has at least a size corresponding to the matrix circuit and the peripheral driver circuit. Spacers is provided between the first and second substrates. A seal material is formed outside the matrix circuits and the peripheral driver circuits in the first and second substrates. A liquid crystal material is filled inside a region enclosed by the seal material. A protective film is formed on the peripheral driver circuit has substantially a thickness equivalent to an interval between the substrates which is formed by the spacers. |
| US08012778B2 |
LED package and fabricating method thereof
The invention provides an LED package capable of effectively releasing heat emitted from an LED chip out of the package and a fabrication method thereof. For this purpose, at least one groove is formed on an underside surface of the substrate to package the LED chip and the groove is filled with carbon nanotube material. In the LED package, a substrate having at least one groove on the underside surface is prepared. A plurality of electrodes are formed on a top surface of the substrate. Also, at least the one LED chip is mounted over the substrate to have both terminals electrically connected to the upper electrodes. In addition, carbon nanotube filler is filled in the groove of the substrate. |
| US08012766B2 |
Prediction of aspirated volume of a liquid
Aspirating a liquid, includes: providing an aspirating probe comprising probe tip and piston pump, wherein the probe tip and piston pump are in fluid communication; measuring an initial gas pressure in the probe prior to liquid entering the liquid being aspirated; moving the tip into the liquid; moving the piston a distance corresponding to the volume of liquid being aspirated; measuring gas pressure in the volume of gas when the piston stops moving and the liquid pulled into the tip has equilibrated; determining piston volume created by movement of the piston; and determining volume of liquid aspirated by the following formula: Vliquid aspirated=Vpiston volume−((Pinitial−Pfinal)*Volume/unit pressure), wherein Pinitial is initial gas pressure before liquid enters the tip, Pfinal is the final pressure of volume of gas after the liquid has equilibrated, and Volume/unit pressure is the change of gas volume for each change of unit pressure. |
| US08012765B2 |
Method for mixing a film of fluid
A method and apparatus is provided for mixing a film of fluid, particularly a film of chemical, biochemical, or biological fluids undergoing a reaction. The apparatus comprises a means for nucleating a bubble using a discrete heat source, such as a resistor, and moving the bubble in the fluid by creating a temperature gradient, thereby mixing the fluid. |
| US08012760B1 |
Sensor for direct measurement of carbonate ions in seawater
A system and associated methodology to directly measure the concentration of carbonate ions in seawater by ultraviolet absorbance spectroscopy. Metal ions are added to seawater and the absorbance spectra of the added ions are measured in the ultraviolet. The spectral absorbance (light attenuation) of ions such as divalent lead or copper in seawater is predominantly determined by the carbonate ion content of seawater. Through a knowledge of (1) the strength of association between carbonate and either divalent lead or divalent copper and (2) the spectral characteristics of these cations in seawater (e.g., Pb2+ complexed solely as PbCO3 and Pb2+ complexed solely in the form of chloride complexes), it is possible to directly determine seawater carbonate ion concentrations from absorbance measurements at a variety of wavelengths in the ultraviolet. Using such procedures, carbonate ion concentrations can be directly measured, rather than calculated from other CO2 system parameters such as pH and total dissolved inorganic carbon. Measurements of carbonate ion concentrations, and measurements of solution pH that also involve spectrophotometric procedures, will allow both types of measurements in a single, small, robust instrument. Furthermore, via simple thermodynamic calculations, conjugate measurements of carbonate and pH can then be used to calculate all carbon system parameters of interest, including the total concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater. |
| US08012758B2 |
Method of monitoring microbiological activity in process streams
An apparatus and method for monitoring microbiological activity in a process stream by measuring dissolved oxygen is disclosed. Bulk microbiological activity and surface associated biological activity are measured using this apparatus and method. |
| US08012755B2 |
Water quality evaluation method and substrate contacting apparatus used
A water quality evaluation method capable of evaluating quality of water to be evaluated with high precision and a substrate contacting apparatus used in the water quality evaluation method are provided. The substrate contacting apparatus 10 has a sealing performance keeping the interior at a vacuum degree lower than or equal to −0.094 MPa. A substrate W is accommodated in the substrate contacting apparatus 10 and water to be evaluated is fed therein, after stopping feeding water, the interior of the substrate contacting apparatus 10 is sealed, and the substrate contacting apparatus 10 is sent to an analysis device with the substrate W accommodated therein. |
| US08012752B2 |
In vitro methods for the induction and maintenance of plant cell lines as single suspension cells with intact cell walls, and transformation thereof
The subject invention provides simple and consistent methods to break suspension cell aggregates to single cells with intact primary cell walls. The subject invention relates in part to cell separation of suspension cell aggregates cultured in medium containing pectin-degrading enzymes or tubulin de-polymerizing compounds including colchicine. The subject invention also relates to novel uses of compounds for such purposes. Another aspect of the subject invention relates to transformation of the subject, isolated cells. Such processes simplify and integrate single-cell-based transformation and selection processes into transgenic and transplastomic event-generation work processes. The subject invention also removes technical constraints and produces marker-free and uniformly expressing transgenic lines in a high throughput fashion to support various needs of animal health, biopharma, and trait and crop protection platforms. |
| US08012749B2 |
Methods for the production of hemagglutinating virus of Japan and adenovirus using cultured cells
A novel cell suited for mass production of Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ), a method for obtaining the cell and use of the cell are disclosed. The human cell is originated from a transformed human kidney cell line, the doubling time thereof in logarithmic growth phase in suspension culture in a serum-free medium is not more than 40 hours, the cell has a freeze-recovery property, the maximum density of viable cells in suspension culture is not less than 106 cells/mL, and HVJ can grow in the cell. The method for obtaining the human cell comprises the steps of suspension-culturing a human transformed kidney cell line in a serum-free medium, and cloning the grown cells; and selecting, from the cloned cells, a cell whose doubling time in logarithmic growth phase in suspension culture in a serum-free medium is not more than 40 hours, which has a freeze-recovery property, whose maximum density of viable cells in suspension culture is not less than 106 cells/mL, in which HVJ can grow. |
| US08012746B2 |
NOx removal system for biogas engines at anaerobic digestion facilities
Provided herein are methods, devices and systems comprising a reactor that is operatively connected to: (a) a biogas production unit for converting waste to a biogas stream; and (b) an engine that utilizes the biogas stream from the biogas producing unit to produce energy and an engine exhaust. |
| US08012744B2 |
Reducing optical interference in a fluidic device
This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow real-time detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications. In particular, the medical device reduces interference with an optical signal which is indicative of the presence of an analyte in a bodily sample. |
| US08012743B2 |
Detection of target analytes using particles and electrodes
The invention relates to the use of particles comprising binding ligands and electron transfer moieties (ETMs). Upon binding of a target analyte, a particle and a reporter composition are associated and transported to an electrode surface. The ETMs are then detected, allowing the presence or absence of the target analyte to be determined. |
| US08012739B2 |
Methods and compositions for the production of orthogonal tRNA-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pairs
This invention provides compositions and methods for generating components of protein biosynthetic machinery including orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases. Methods for identifying orthogonal pairs are also provided. These components can be used to incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins in vivo. |
| US08012738B2 |
Purification of vaccinia virus- and recombinant vaccinia virus-based vaccines
The present invention relates to methods for purification of Vaccinia viruses (W) and/or Vaccinia virus (W) particles, which can lead to highly pure and stable virus preparations of predominantly biologically active viruses. The invention encompasses purifying a virus preparation in a sterilized way with high efficiency and desirable yield in terms of purity, biological activity and stability, aspects advantageous for industrial production. |
| US08012737B2 |
Methods of producing influenza vaccine compositions
Methods and compositions for the optimization and production of influenza viruses, e.g., ca influenza B strains, in eggs and host cells suitable as influenza vaccines are provided. |
| US08012736B2 |
Multi plasmid system for the production of influenza virus
Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. |
| US08012735B2 |
Infectious cDNA clone of the modified live virus vaccine strain of Equine arteritis virus
An isolated polynucleotide molecule includes a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA molecule encoding a modified live viral strain of an Equine arteritis virus, wherein the DNA sequence is SEQ ID NO:1 or a degenerate variant thereof. Also provided are transformed or transfected host cells including that sequence, vectors including the sequence, and isolated infectious RNA molecules encoded by the sequence. Further, a modified DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA molecule encoding a modified live viral strain of an Equine arteritis virus is provided wherein the DNA sequence is SEQ ID NO:2 or a degenerate variant thereof, including a silent point mutation allowing distinguishing the modified sequence from the parent and other strains of Equine arteritis virus. |
| US08012733B2 |
Sialidases
Isolated polypeptide having sialidase activity and having an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% amino acid sequence identity with amino acids 34 to 407 of SEQ ID NO: 3. |
| US08012727B2 |
Biological production method of photoconductive arsenic-sulfide (As-S) nanotube and strain used for the same
Disclosed is a biological method for preparing arsenic sulfide (As—S) compounds. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for production of nanotubes based on As—S compounds including As2S3 by reacting thiosulfate S2O32− with arsenate As5+ through mediation of Shewanella sp. strain. |
| US08012721B2 |
Method for glucose production using endoglucanase core protein for improved recovery and reuse of enzyme
The present invention pertains to a method of converting cellulose to glucose by treating a pretreated lignocellulosic substrate with an enzyme mixture comprising cellulase enzyme and endoglucanase core proteins, wherein the endoglucanase core proteins are present in the enzyme mixture at an amount relative to all endoglucanases from about 35 wt. % to about 100 wt. % and wherein the endoglucanase cellulase enzymes are present in the enzyme mixture at an amount relative to the amount of CBH and EG enzymes from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. The pretreated lignocellulosic substrate is selected from the group consisting of agricultural residues, residues after starch or sugar removal, dedicated ethanol crops, forestry products, and pulp and paper products, or combinations thereof. |
| US08012720B2 |
Protein detecting device
A protein detecting device, which comprises: (1) a detecting unit having a bonding section, which has properties for specifically bonding to a protein to be detected, a detecting section for detecting the bonding of the protein to be detected to the bonding section, the detecting section being made up of a polynucleotide double strand and a charge separating group, and an electrode section detecting the change in electrical conductivity of, or amount of transferred charge in, the polynucleotide double strand modified by the bond of the protein, (2) a standard electrode, (3) a reference electrode, (4) a container for housing the detecting unit, the standard electrode and the reference electrode, and containing a sample solutions comprising the protein to be detected, and (5) a measuring unit for measuring the protein based on a signal detected in the detecting unit. |
| US08012702B2 |
H+-gated ion channel
The invention relates to an isolated or recombinant Na+/H+ exchanger comprising an isolated or recombinant Na+/H+ exchanger, particularly to the PBO-4 Na+/H+ exchanger. Also disclosed is an isolated or recombinant protein component of an H+-gated channel which can be affected by extracellular Ca2+ concentration. In particular, the invention relates to PBO-5 and/or PBO-8 and/or a H+-gated channel composed of PBO-5 and PBO-8. The invention relates to compounds isolated from a vertebrate organism, wherein said compounds comprise at least a part of a H+-gated channel or Na+/H+ exchanger. The invention also relates to a method for identifying a component of a H+-gated channel in a vertebrate organism. |
| US08012701B2 |
Agonists of bitter taste receptors and uses thereof
The present invention relates to agonists of the human bitter-taste receptor hTAS2R3 and its role in bitter taste transduction. The invention also relates to assays for screening molecules that modulate, e.g. suppress or block hTAS2R3 bitter taste transduction or bitter taste response. |
| US08012699B2 |
Recombinant antigens for diagnosis and prevention of murine typhus
The invention relates to the construction of recombinant, immunodominant Rickettsia typhi proteins. The invention also relates to a method for the use of the recombinant proteins, either singly or in combination, in detection and diagnostic assays. The proteins can also be used in anti-Rickettsia typhi immunogenic formulations. |
| US08012698B2 |
Diagnostic markers of wound infection
The present invention relates to a method of determining the microbial bioburden in a wound (in particular a diabetic ulcer) in a test subject, the method comprising the step of measuring the level of a cytokine in a wound sample, wherein a cytokine level lower than a reference level indicates a significant microbial bioburden in the wound (or a cytokine level higher than a reference level indicates an insignificant microbial bioburden in the wound). The invention provides methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of wound infection, and devices and kits for use in such methods. |
| US08012697B2 |
Monoclonal anti-annexin A3 antibodies for the detection of prostate carcinoma
The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma comprising the determination of annexin A3, particularly of extracellular annexin A3 with highly specific antibodies, particularly with monoclonal antibodies. The present invention further refers to a test reagent comprising such antibodies. |
| US08012695B2 |
Methods and compositions relating to promoter regulation by MUC1 and KLF proteins
This invention relates to regulation of cell signaling, cell growth, and more particularly to the regulation of cancer or inflammatory cell growth and/or activation. The invention provides methods of, and compositions useful for, inhibiting interactions between MUC1 and a kruppel-like factor (KLF), method of inhibiting interactions between a KLF protein and the p53 promoter, methods of inhibiting the interaction between MUC1 and the p53 promoter, methods of increasing p53 activity, and methods of increasing histone acetylation. The invention also provides screening methods for identifying compounds that inhibit the aforementioned interactions. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the identified compounds can be useful in treating cancers and inflammatory conditions. |
| US08012693B2 |
Analysis of chemically crosslinked cellular samples
A method of analyzing cellular samples that include a chemically crosslinked analyte is provided. The analysis typically involves the use of mass spectrometry. |
| US08012689B2 |
Elite event A2407-12 and methods and kits for identifying such event in biological samples
Tools are provided which allow rapid and unequivocal identification elite event A2704-12 in biological samples. |
| US08012675B2 |
Method of patterning target layer on substrate
A method of patterning a target layer on a substrate is described. A patterned photoresist layer is formed over the target layer, wherein the patterned photoresist layer has unexposed parts as separate islands and each unexposed part has a low proton concentration at least in its sidewalls. Acid-crosslinked polymer layers are formed only on the sidewalls of each unexposed part. A flood exposure step is performed to the substrate. A baking step is performed to the patterned photoresist layer. A development step is performed to remove the previously unexposed parts. The target layer is etched with the acid-crosslinked polymer layers as a mask. |
| US08012668B2 |
Planographic printing plate precursor
A planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; a hydrophilic layer including a hydrophilic polymer chemically bonded to a surface of the support, where the hydrophilic polymer has a positively-charged substituent and at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of a reactive group capable of directly chemically bonding to a surface of the support and a reactive group capable of chemically bonding to a surface of the support via a crosslinked structure; and an image forming layer, wherein the hydrophilic layer and the image forming layer are provided in that order on the support. |
| US08012664B2 |
Light-sensitive component for use in photoresists
A compound of the formula (I) where the symbols and indices are each defined as follows: A is A′, R or O—R; where R is a straight-chain, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical having 1-8 carbon atoms; A′ is the same or different and is B is a bond, —O—C(O)—, —C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—, —C(O)—NH—, —NH—C(O)—, —C(O)—O—CH2—CH(OH)—CH2—O, —O—CH2—CH(OH)—CH2—O—(O)C—, —O—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—NH— or —NH—C(O)—O—; R1 is H or OH; m is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; Y is n is a positive rational number ≧3; E is the same or different and is —CH—CHR2—, —CHR2—CH2—, —CH2—CHR2—O—, —O—CHR2—CH2—, —(CH2)r—O— or —O—(CH2)—; R2 is H or CH3 and r is 1 or 4, is suitable as a light-sensitive component for photoresists. |
| US08012656B2 |
Backing layer containing photoconductor
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a backing layer, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein the outermost layer of the backing layer is comprised of an acrylic resin and a crosslinkable fluoro additive. |
| US08012654B2 |
Photomask blank and photomask
A photomask blank is provided comprising an etch stop film which is disposed on a transparent substrate and is resistant to fluorine dry etching and removable by chlorine dry etching, a light-shielding film disposed on the etch stop film and including at least one layer composed of a transition metal/silicon material, and an antireflective film disposed on the light-shielding film. When the light-shielding film is dry etched to form a pattern, pattern size variation arising from pattern density dependency is reduced, so that a photomask is produced at a high accuracy. |
| US08012651B2 |
Mounting a pellicle to a frame
A pellicle membrane is mounted between an outer frame and an inner frame. At least one of the frames is attached to the reticle without using conventional adhesives. The pellicle and reticle may be used in a lithography system. The pellicle allows radiation to pass through the pellicle to the reticle and may prevent particles from passing through the pellicle. |
| US08012647B2 |
Membrane-electrode unit and fuel elements with increased service life
The invention relates to a membrane-electrode unit comprising a) two electrochemically active electrodes divided by a polymer electrolytic membrane, wherein the surfaces of said polymer electrolytic membrane are in contact with the electrodes in such a way that the first electrode partially or entirely covers the front side of the polymer electrolytic membrane and the second electrode partially or entirely covers the rear side thereof, b) a sealing material is applied to the front and rear sides of the polymer electrolytic membrane, wherein the polymer electrolytic membrane is provided with one or several recesses and the sealing material applied to the front side of the polymer electrolytic membrane is in contact with the sealing material applied to the rear side thereof. A method for producing said membrane-electrode unit and fuel cells provided therewith are also disclosed. |
| US08012643B1 |
Gas control and operation method of a fuel cell system for water and gas distribution
A gas control and operation method of a fuel cell system for improved water and gas distribution is disclosed. The present invention provides for a mechanization of a fuel cell system that allows control of the anode reactant and anode effluent through the anode portions of the fuel cell system to improve water and gas distribution on the anode side of the fuel cells that increases the voltage stability of the fuel cells. |
| US08012642B2 |
Power supply apparatus having plurality of planar fuel cell assemblies connected in stack form
A power supply apparatus comprising a plurality of planar fuel cell assemblies is disclosed. Each planar fuel cell assembly comprises two fuel cell members, a channel-forming member interposed between the two fuel cell members and defining a first channel for flowing a fluid fuel along with the two fuel cell members, and a coupling member to be coupled with an adjacent planar fuel cell assembly to define a second channel for flowing an ambient air, wherein the coupling member has a plurality of openings for flowing the ambient air therethrough. |
| US08012636B2 |
Apparatus and method for acceleratively activating fuel cell
Apparatuses and methods for accelerated activation of fuel cells are disclosed. The apparatuses include a fuel cell stack; an air supplying means coupled to a cathode catalyst side of the fuel cell stack through a mass flow controller and a humidifier; a hydrogen supplying means coupled to an anode catalyst side of the fuel cell stack through a mass flow controller and a humidifier; and a cable coupled to both ends of the fuel cell stack for short-circuiting the cathode and the anode. |
| US08012633B2 |
Advanced metal-air battery having a ceramic membrane electrolyte
A metal-air battery is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a cathode to reduce oxygen molecules and an alkali-metal-containing anode to oxidize the alkali metal (e.g., Li, Na, and K) contained therein to produce alkali-metal ions. An aqueous catholyte is placed in ionic communication with the cathode to store reaction products generated by reacting the alkali-metal ions with the oxygen containing anions. These reaction products are stored as solutes dissolved in the aqueous catholyte. An ion-selective membrane is interposed between the alkali-metal containing anode and the aqueous catholyte. The ion-selective membrane is designed to be conductive to the alkali-metal ions while being impermeable to the aqueous catholyte. |
| US08012625B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell
The present invention aims to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having high capacity and capable of preventing elution of cobalt and decomposition of the electrolyte. This aim can be accomplished by providing a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell comprising a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material, an negative electrode having an negative electrode active material, and non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode active material comprises lithium cobalt oxide to which at least one material selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Ti, and Zr was added, and the positive electrode comprises lithium phosphate. |
| US08012623B2 |
Medium and large size battery module of vertical stacking structure
Disclosed herein is a battery module constructed in a structure in which unit modules are horizontally stacked while the unit modules are vertically erected, wherein the battery module includes a base plate on which the unit modules are horizontally stacked while the unit modules are vertically erected, a pair of side plates fixed to the base plate at lower ends thereof such that the side plates are brought into tight contact with outer surfaces of the outermost unit modules, and a housing fixed to the base plate in a structure to surround the unit modules, the housing being provided at the inside thereof with supporting parts for supporting upper ends of the side plates, respectively. |
| US08012621B2 |
Nickel-metal hydride battery using alkali ion conducting separator
A nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy, an alkaline electrolyte, and an alkali conducting separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The alkali conducting separator may be a solid alkali metal ion super ion conducting material, wherein the alkali metal is Na, K, or Li. |
| US08012618B2 |
Rechargeable battery and battery pack
Known rechargeable batteries contain a cell that is received in a cell cup. For monitoring the temperature of the rechargeable batteries, PTC elements are used, but they increase the amount of space needed and can be accommodated in a battery pack only with difficulty. For the sake of simple accommodation, a rechargeable battery has a cell, which is received in a cell cup. According to the invention, for monitoring the temperature of the cell, a temperature-dependent element, in particular a PTC element, is provided that at least partially surrounds the cell cup. The invention is intended in particular for battery packs in which temperature monitoring is required. |
| US08012616B2 |
Advanced apparatus for generating electrical power from aquatic sediment/water interfaces
An improved benthic microbial fuel cell for generating energy at the interface of aquatic sediment and seawater includes an anode electrode embedded within the aquatic sediment, a cathode electrode positioned within the seawater and above the aquatic sediment, a rig for maintaining the relative positions of the anode and cathode electrodes, electrical leads extending from the anode and cathode electrodes to a load, wherein the anode electrode comprises a bottlebrush electrode residing within a permeable tube. The apparatus is easier to deploy than previously-described fuel cells, while being lighter, more durable, and generating greater power density. Also disclosed are methods of generating power from such an apparatus. |
| US08012604B2 |
Electroluminescent materials and devices
The present invention relates to heteroleptic electroluminescent metal complexes and to their preparation and use in electroluminescent devices, particularly to electroluminescent compounds having the general chemical formula: |
| US08012603B2 |
Polymer compound and polymer light-emitting device using the same
High-molecular compounds comprising repeating units represented by the general formula (1) or (2) and having number-average molecular weights of 103 to 108 in terms of polystyrene: (1) [wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently a trivalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a trivalent heterocyclic group; and X1 and X2 are each independently O, S, C(═O), S(═O), SO2, C(R1)(R2), Si(R3)(R4), N(R5), B(R6), P(R7), or P(═O)(R8), with the provisos that X1 and X2 must not be the same and that X1 and Ar2 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar1, and X2 and Ar1 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar2] (2) [wherein Ar3 and Ar4 are each independently a trivalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a trivalent heterocyclic group; and X3 and X4 are each independently N, B, P, C(R9), or Si(R10), with the provisos that X3 and X4 must not be the same and that X3 and Ar4 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar3, and X4 and Ar3 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar4]. |
| US08012602B2 |
Electroluminescent device
Disclosed are electroluminescent devices that comprise organic layers that contain certain organic compounds containing one or more pyrimidine moieties. The organic compounds containing one or more pyrimidine moieties are suitable components of blue-emitting, durable, organo-electroluminescent layers. The electroluminescent devices may be employed for full color display panels in for example mobile phones, televisions and personal computer screens. |
| US08012595B2 |
Appliance panel with stainless steel look
An appliance is provided having a panel formed of a magnetizable material and a polyester lamination film adhered to an outer surface of the panel, wherein the polyester lamination film provides a stainless steel appearance to the panel. The polyester lamination film may be a polyester film layer with a backside brushed, a vacuum metallized aluminum layer deposited on the backside of the polyester film layer, and a tinted coating layer provided on a front side of the polyester film layer. The tinted coating layer may be colored to provide a correct color rendition of the metallized aluminum layer as stainless steel, as seen through said polyester lamination film. A strippable film layer may be applied over the polyester lamination film to protect the panel during manufacture. The magnetizable material of the panel may be rolled steel. The panel may have bends in its surface. |
| US08012594B2 |
Functional film containing structure and method of manufacturing functional film
A method of manufacturing a functional film by which the functional film formed on a film formation substrate can be easily peeled from the film formation substrate. The method includes the steps of: (a) forming a separation layer by using an inorganic material on a substrate containing a material having heat tolerance to a predetermined temperature; (b) forming a layer to be peeled containing a functional film, which is formed by using a functional material, on the separation layer; and (c) performing heat treatment on a structure containing the substrate, the separation layer and the layer to be peeled at the predetermined temperature so as to peel the layer to be peeled from the substrate or reducing bonding strength between the layer to be peeled and the substrate. |
| US08012592B2 |
Monolithically integrated semiconductor materials and devices
Methods and structures for monolithically integrating monocrystalline silicon and monocrystalline non-silicon materials and devices are provided. In one structure, a semiconductor structure includes a silicon substrate and a first monocrystalline semiconductor layer disposed over the silicon substrate, wherein the first monocrystalline semiconductor layer has a lattice constant different from a lattice constant of relaxed silicon. The semiconductor structure further includes an insulating layer disposed over the first monocrystalline semiconductor layer in a first region, a monocrystalline silicon layer disposed over the insulating layer in the first region, and a second monocrystalline semiconductor layer disposed over at least a portion of the first monocrystalline semiconductor layer in a second region and absent from the first region. The second monocrystalline semiconductor layer has a lattice constant different from the lattice constant of relaxed silicon. |
| US08012591B2 |
Hydrophilic composition and hydrophilic member
A hydrophilic composition contains (A) a hydrophilic polymer represented by the following general formula (I); and (B) an alkoxide compound of an element selected from Si, Ti, Zr and Al: wherein the symbols in the formula are defined in the specification. |
| US08012590B2 |
Glass/ceramic coatings for implants
Glass coatings on metals including Ti, Ti6A14V and CrCo were prepared for use as implants. The composition of the glasses was tailored to match the thermal expansion of the substrate metal. By controlling the firing atmosphere, time, and temperature, it was possible to control the reactivity between the glass and the alloy and to fabricate coatings (25-150 μm thick) with excellent adhesion to the substrate. The optimum firing temperatures ranged between 800 and 840° C. at times up to 1 min in air or 15 min in N2. The same basic technique was used to create multilayered coatings with concentration gradients of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles and SiO2. |
| US08012585B2 |
Carbon nanotube composite film
A carbon nanotube composite film includes a carbon nanotube film and at least one conductive coating. The carbon nanotube film includes an amount of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are parallel to a surface of the carbon nanotube film. The least one conductive coating is disposed about the carbon nanotube. |
| US08012583B2 |
Polyaniline silanol containing intermediate transfer members
An intermediate transfer member that includes a core shell component where the core is, for example, a polyaniline, and the shell is a polyhedral silsesquioxane. |
| US08012580B2 |
Adhesive bonding sheet, semiconductor device using the same, and method for manufacturing such semiconductor device
An adhesive bonding sheet having an optically transmitting supporting substrate and an adhesive bonding layer, and being used in both a dicing step and a semiconductor element adhesion step, wherein the adhesive bonding layer comprises: a polymer component (A) having a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 or more including functional groups; an epoxy resin (B); a phenolic epoxy resin curing agent (C); a photoreactive monomer (D), wherein the Tg of the cured material obtained by ultraviolet light irradiation is 250° C. or more; and a photoinitiator (E) which generates a base and a radical by irradiation with ultraviolet light of wavelength 200-450 nm. |
| US08012579B2 |
Laminated body containing particle dispersion layer, method for producing the same, and light modulation device
A laminated body comprises: a particle dispersion layer comprising a first material and particles dispersed in the first material, the first material being changed from a gel state to a sol state upon increase in temperature; and a coated layer comprising a second material, the second material is changed from a gel state to a sol state upon increase in temperature, is changed from a gel state to a sol state upon decrease in temperature, and shows a hysteresis behavior in sol-gel change upon change in temperature, wherein the particle dispersion layer in a sol state and the coated layer in a gel state are laminated in contact with each other, and in a state where each of the particle dispersion layer and the coated layer contains a solvent, a maximum temperature T1 where the first material maintains a gel state is less than a maximum temperature T2 where the second material maintains a gel state upon increase in temperature (T1 |
| US08012573B2 |
Fiber composite
To provide a cellulose fiber composite having high transparency, low water absorption and low coefficient of linear thermal expansion.A fiber composite which comprises fibers having an average fiber diameter of at most 30 nm and a matrix material and which has a haze of at most 5 according to JIS K-7136 when the fiber composite has a thickness of 100 μm. |
| US08012571B2 |
Optical film comprising birefringent naphthalate copolyester having branched or cyclic C4-C10 alkyl units
The present invention relates to multilayer optical films and birefringent copolyester films. The birefringent copolyester optical layer or birefringent copolyester film comprises a major amount of naphthalate units, ethylene units, and a minor amount of branched or cyclic C4 to C10 alkyl units. Also described are certain copolyester polymeric materials further comprising subunits of a phthalate ionomer such as dimethyl sulfosodium isophthtalate ionomer. |
| US08012569B2 |
Sliding member and process for formation of its coating layer
An object of the present invention is that in a sliding member whose substrate is improved in sliding characteristics by a coating layer comprising a solid lubricant, the coating layer is obtained as one having a low coefficient of friction and an excellent wear resistance. In the present invention, the coating layer 7 has a structure formed by laminating solid lubricant plate crystal grains 3, and contains not more than 10 mass % of a resin for binder 8 for bonding the solid lubricant plate crystal grains 3, and the lubricant plate crystal grains have a crystal structure formed by piling (00l) planes (wherein l is an integer of not less than 1) in parallel, the index of orientation of the (00l) planes being not less than 90% at least on the sliding surface. |
| US08012565B2 |
Lyocell nonwoven webs
Absorbent structures with nonwoven meltblown lyocell fiber webs are described which have excellent liquid distribution properties. The absorbent structures comprise at least two nonwoven meltblown lyocell fiber webs with superabsorbent polymer intermediate the two webs. Methods for making the structures are also described. The structures are particularly useful for use in disposable hygienic products. |
| US08012559B2 |
Optical information recording medium
An optical information recording medium having the same recording volume as that of DVD-ROM is obtained which shows excellent characteristics at recording linear velocities within a range of twice linear velocity of DVD (about 8.2 m/s) to five times liner velocity of DVD (about 20.5 m/s) and excellent archival stability, by a construction including a transparent substrate, a recording layer which is formed on the substrate directly or with another layer interposed therebetween and can change in phase reversibly by a laser beam irradiation, wherein the composition of the recording layer is within a region bounded by composition points A(41.2, 7.4, 51.4), B(39.8, 10.5, 49.7), C(28.5, 21.7, 9.8), and D(30.6, 15.8, 53.6) in a triangular coordinate graph represented with a coordinate of (Ge, Sb—Bi, Te) and a Bi content in the recording layer is 4 atom % and more and less than 13 atom %. |
| US08012558B2 |
Release agent based on ethylene multi-block copolymer
Release agent more particularly for an adhesive with an ethylene multi-block copolymer, the ethylene multi-block copolymer being composed of hard segment blocks, comprising at least 95% (w/w) ethylene and a comonomer, and of soft segment blocks, comprising ethylene and a comonomer, the fraction of comonomer in the soft segment blocks being between 10 and 20 mol %, and the fraction of the hard segment blocks in the ethylene multi-block copolymer being not more than 45% (w/w). |
| US08012556B2 |
Acrylic rubber composition and its vulcanized product
The present invention provides an acrylic rubber composition and its vulcanized product, having good vulcanization characteristics and an excellent balance between processability, mechanical properties of rubber and compression set.The acrylic rubber composition comprises a carboxyl group-containing acrylic rubber, a diazabicycloalkene compound, a polyamine compound, and a tertiary amine compound represented by the following formula (1): where each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a substituent having at least one saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having a linear structure, a branched structure or a cyclic structure, or benzyl group. |
| US08012555B2 |
Fluoroplastic composite elastomer
An improved fluoroplastic lined elastomeric tube that can maintain a stable flow rate while pumping aggressive chemicals in a peristaltic pump for an extended period of time and is fabricated in sizes ranging from 0.5 mm to 100 mm in inside diameter. The inner fluoroplastic liner comprises a composite of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and a fluoroplastic polymer resulting in improved flex life over single component fluoroplastics. The inventive liner is bonded to either an unreinforced elastomer or a fiber reinforced elastomer for use in both low and high pressure peristaltic pump applications. |